'«'. 


i<i:>:< 


,^  m  © 


HE  IS  A  DREAMER-  LE  T 
VS  LEAVE  HIM^  PASS 


Julius  Cagsar 


ACT!  •  scri- 


mXEODUCTION. 


Shakespeare's  Julius  Ccesar  was  not  printed  before 
it  appeared  in  the  first  folio,  of  1623,  but  there  is 
good  reason  for  believing  it  to  have  been  written 
in  or  before  the  year  1601.  Its  date  of  production 
might  be,  therefore,  between  King  Henry  V.  and 
Hamlet ;  but  Shakespeare  more  frequently  f¥0- 
duced  two  plays  than  one  in  a  year. 

Mr.  Halliwell-Phillips  has  pointed  out  that  in  a 
book  published  in  1601 — Weaver's  "Mirror  of 
Martyrs  " — there  is  distinct  reference  to  the  FcMmm 
Scene  in  the  Third  Act  of  Shakespeare's  play :  , 

"  The  many-headed  multitude  were  drawne 

By  Brutus'  speech,  that  Cassar  was  ambitious ; 
When  eloquent  Mark  Antonie  had  showne 

His  vertues,  who  but  Brutus  then  was  vicious  ? " 

This  allusion  places  beyond  question  the  fact  that 
the  stanza  in  Drayton's  "  Barons'  Wars,"  published 
in  1603,  which  gives  a  character  of  Mortimer  re- 
sembling Antony's  character  of  Brutus  in  the  last 


6  INTEODUCTION. 

scene  of  Juliiis  C-cBsar,  was  suggested  by  a  pas- 
sage in  Shakespeare's  play.     This  was  the  stanza, : 

"  Such  one  he  was,  of  him  we  boldly  say, 

In  whose  rich  soul  all  sovereign  powers  did  suit, 
For  whom  in  peace  the  elements  all  lay 

So  mixed,  as  none  could  sovereignty  impute  ; 
Afl  all  did  govern,  yet  all  did  obey  : 

His  lively  temper  was  so  absolute 
That 't  seemed,  when  Heaven  his  model  first  began. 

In  him  it  showed  perfection  in  a  man." 

Revision  of  the  poem  for  the  edition  of  1619  made 
the  resemblance  even  more  distinct,  .its  last  couplet 
being  corrected  into  : 

"  As  that  it  seemed,  when  Nature  him  began, 
She  meant  to  show  all  that  might  be  in  maiL* 

Shakespeare  had  made  Antony  say  of  Brutns  : 

"  His  life  was  gentle  ;  and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  say  to  all  the  world,  this  was  a  man." 

Shakespeare's  Julius  Ccesar  is  a  play  of  govern- 
ment,  but  it  is  not  enough  merely  to  say  that  it 
represents  government  in  its  chief  forms.  The 
sweep  of  the  story  brings  before  us — in  Rome  the 
old  centre  of  rule — unstable  populace,  democratic 
tribunes,  republicans  in  their  two  main  types,  as 
the  practical  republican  whose  thought  is  for  him- 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

Be\£f  and  the  philosophical  whose  thought  is  for  the 
world  ;  it  paints  in  feeble  man  the  groed  of  empire, 
and  tyrannicide  as  worse  than  fruitless ;  shows 
oligarchy  risen  from  the  ruins  with  a  tyranny  far 
greater  than  that  from  which  the  bare  mistrust  had 
caused  escape  to  be  sought  by  murder ;  it  paints 
civil  war,  and  includes  foreshadowings  of  the  dis- 
union between  chiefs  of  equal  power.  Their  strife 
is  shown  in  the  play  of  Antony  and  Cleopatra,  that 
continues  the  sequence  of  events  to  the  final  triumph 
of  Octavius. 

There  is  all  this,  no  doubt,  furnishing  material 
for  the  two  stories;  and  Shakespeare,  as  in  pre- 
ceding plays,  made  use  of  the  historical  groundwork 
as  a  parable  against  sedition  and  a  warning  of  the 
ills  of  civil  war,  while  the  direct  human  interest, 
the  centre  of  action,  might  lie  in  something  else. 
So  in  this  pair  of  plays,  one,  Antony  and  Cleopatra^ 
has  its  centre  in  the  house  of  the  strange  woman 
by  whom  many  strong  men  have  been  slain.  But  in 
Juliu8  Co'^ar  the  centre  of  human  interest  is  the 
centre  also  of  the  question  of  government.  Religious 
men,  opposed  to  her  in  faith,  had  more  than  onco 
plotted  the  assassination  of  Elizabeth ;  and  that 
the  death  of  the  childless  queen  might,  whenever  it 
happened,  bring  on  another  contest  for  the  crowi}, 


8  INTEODUCTION. 

was  in  tbe  latter  years  of  Elizabeth's  reign  widely 
feared.  But  a  true  dramatist  like  Shakespeare 
will  never  place  the  point  of  unity,  the  centre  of 
crystallisation,  so  to  speak,  with  which  every  line 
in  a  good  play,  poem,  picture,  statue,  song,  or  what- 
ever else  may  claim  to  be  a  work  of  art,  has  its 
relation,  in  anything  so  abstract  and  impersonal  as 
the  mere  conception  of  government.  The  central 
thought  of  a  play  of  Shakespeare's  is  to  be  found 
always  in  some  one  human  truth  that  strikes  home 
to  the  soul  of  some  one  man,  through  whom  it 
passes  insensibly  into  the  souls  of  all  who  have 
been  interested  in  his  story. 

Which,  then,  of  the  persons  in  this  play  of  Julius 
CcBsar  is  the  one  upon  whom  Shakespeare  seeks 
especially  to  fix  attention  ?  Beyond  question,  it  is 
Brutus.  The  centre  of  interest  will  lie  in  him. 
Shunning,  as  we  must  always,  the  paths  of  dry  specu- 
lation which  invariably  lead  those  who  follow  them 
to  deserts  far  away  from  Shakespeare's  track,  we 
ask,  p'^  we  must  always,  what  is  the  most  direct 
and  obvious  source  of  our  strong  human  interest  in 
the  person  whose  fortunes  are  most  continuously 
and  visibly  affected  by  the  action  of  the  plot. 
Binitus  is  represented  as  a  man  gentle  and  noble  in 
the    best   sense  of  each    word,   the   most   perfect 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

character  in  Shakespeare,  but  for  one  great  error 
in  his  life.  All  Rome  had  so  much  faith  in  his 
unblemished  honour,  that  the  conspirators  who  had 
determined  to  strike  down  Cassar  by  assassination 
in  the  hour  when  he  was  about  to  grasp  the  sole 
dominion  of  Rome,  strongly  desired  companionship 
of  Brutus  to  give  to  their  deed  colour  6f  right,  and 
win  for  it  more  readily  the  assent  of  the  people. 
There  is  in  the  blood  of  Brutus  a  love  of  liberty  so 
strong  that  it  is  a  virtue  tending  to  excess.  Upon 
this  and  upon  his  unselfish  concern  for  the  common 
good,  his  brother-in-law  Cassius  works,  and  by  hia 
working  sways  the  scales  of  judgment,  and  leads 
Brutus  to  do  evil  that  good  may  come  of  it.  Not 
for  ill  done,  but  for  mistrust  of  what  might  come, 
with  no  motive  but  the  highest  desire  for  his 
country's  good,  with  no  personal  grudge  in  hiE 
heart,  but  a  friend's  affection  for  the  man  he  struck, 
Brutus  took  part  in  an  assassination.  Portents  ai'e 
so  inwoven  with  the  action  of  the  play  as  to  sug- 
gest the  presence  of  the  gods  in  the  affairs  of  men. 
The  stroke  that  was  to  free  Rome  from  a  possible 
tyranny  gave  three  tyrants  for  one,  civil  war  for 
peace,  and  sent  to  a  cruel  death,  by  self-murder,  the 
faithful  wife  who  was  dear  to  Brutus  as  the  ruddy 
drops  that  visited  his  sad  heart.    The  spirit  of  Ceesar 


10  INTEODUCTION. 

haanted  Brutus  as  his  evil  spirit,  and  the  last  cx^ 
at  Philippi  was,  "  O  Julius  Caesar,  thou  art  mighty 
yet ! "  as  Caesar's  chief  assassins  were  dying  by 
their  own  hands  on  the  swords  that  stabbed  him. 
Suggestions  of  the  nature  of  the  error  flash  out 
again  and  again  from  passages  in  the  Fifth  Act 
Here  is  one.  At  bay  on  the  Plains  of  Plulippi, 
Cassius  says  to  Brutus  : 

**  If  we  do  lose  this  battle,  then  is  this 
The  very  last  time  we  shall  speak  together  : 
What  are  you  then  determia^d  to  do  ?  " 

Brutus  replies,  with  his  own  natural  mind,  applying^ 
to  the  killing  of  himself  a  reasoning  that  pracisely 
applies  also  to  the  killing  of  Caesar : 

"  Even  by  the  rale  of  that  philosophy 
By  which  I  did  blame  Cato  for  the  death 
"Which  he  did  give  himself  : — I  know  not  how, 
But  I  do  find  it  cowardly  and  vile, 
For  fear  of  xchat  might  fall,  so  to  prevent 
The  term  of  life, — arming  myself  with  patience 
To  stay  the  providence  of  some  high  powers. 
That  govern  u»  below." 

But  the  next  question  of  Cassius  drives  the  thought 
of  Brutus  from  its  place  of  rest,  and  sends  it  down 
the  incline  of  that  j>assion  for  liberty  which  makes 
him  now  as  ready  to  kill  himself  as  he  before  was 
to  kill  Csesar.     Cassius  says  : 


rNTRODUCTION.  U. 

"  Then,  if  we  lose  this  battl^ 
Toa  are  contented  to  be  led  in  triumph 
Through  the  streets  of  Rome  ? 

Brutug.    No,   Cassius,  no.     Think  not  thou,  noble 
Roman, 
That  ever  Brutus  will  go  bound  to  Borne  ; 
He  bears  too  great  a  mind." 

The  passion  for  freedom  begets  action  that 
contradicts  his  calm  unbiassed  sense  of  right  So 
against  right  he  had  struck  Caesar — doing  evil  to 
find  good — and  brought  down  upon  himself  and  his 
country  greater  evils  than  he  had  intended  to 
avert.  For  the  common  good  he  committed  crime 
from  which,  if  it  had  been  for  himself,  his  soul 
would  have  recoiled.  For  it  is  no  more  true  in 
public  than  in  private  life  that  good  can  come  of 
evil  done ;  and  let  high  politics  stink  as  they  may, 
there  is  no  difference  between  public  and  private 
morality.  The  noblest  motives  in  a  man  of  purest 
character  cannot  turn  moral  wrong  into  political 
right,  and  the  more  completely  Shakespeare  im- 
presses us  with  the  ideal  beauty ,  of  the  character 
of  Brutus,  the  more  surely  he  brings  home  to  us 
this  truth. 

Let  as  turn  now  to  the  conduct  of  the  story 
which  has  this  truth  at  its  heart.  The  play  opens 
at  a  time  when  there  is  general  belief  that  Cseaar 


12  INTBODUCTION. 

desires  an  imperial  crown,  and  on  the  fifteenth 
of  February,  *'  the  Feast  of  Lupercal,"  celebrated 
annually  in  honour  of  a  shepherd  god,  when  Caesar 
himself,  having  returned  in  triumph  from  the  wars, 
hopes  publicly  to  receive  the  crown  from  Antony, 
supported  by  the  acclamations  of  the  people.  The 
fickle  populace  are  in  the  streets.  Their  tribunes, 
who  are  expecting  Caesars  grasp  at  empire,  meet 
them,  chide  theikj,  drive  them  to  their  homes, 
pluck  Caesar's  trophies  from  the  images,  and  the 
last  words  of  the  scene  clearly  express  their 
motive : 

"  These  growing  feathers  plucked  from  Caesar's  wing 
Will  make  him  fly  an  ordinary  pitch. 
Who  else  would  soar  above  the  view  of  men 
And  keep  us  all  in  servile  fearf ulness." 

Here  is  the  aim  of  Csesar  as  seen  from  without  by 
heads  of  the  democracy. 

The  second  scene  shows  Caesar's  aim  in  Caasar 
himself,  and  as  seen  from  without  by  the  repub- 
licans. It  tells  the  failure  of  that  day's  attempt 
upon  the  crown,  and  begins  the  tale  of  the  con- 
spiracy with  the  attempt  of  Cassias  to  bring 
Brutus  into  it.  The  scene  opens  with  Csesar 
passing  to  the  games,  and,  as  he  hopes,  to  his 
arowning  as   King.     But   hope  of   empire   brings 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

with  it  to  the  childless  man  desire  for  a  direct 
heir  to  the  thiona  This  thought  underlieB  the 
first  words  spoken  by  Caesar  in  the  play,  ad- 
dressed to  his  wife  and  to  Antony,  who  is 
stripped  for  the  course,  and  whose  touch  in  the 
chase,  as  he  passed  her,  might  remove  sterility. 
The  same  ten  lines  of  the  opening  of  the  scene 
paint  Caesar  so  far  risen  above  surrounding  men 
that  he  is  treated  as  a  god ;  and  afterwards  in  his 
own  speech,  big  with  the  sense  of  his  sole  dignity 
and  power,  he  assumes  the  god.  *'  I  shall  remem- 
ber," Antony  replies  to  the  bidding  that  he  should 
not  forget,  in  his  speed,  to  touch  Calphumia  : 

"  When  CsBsar  says, '  Do  this,'  it  is  performed.** 

So  men  speak  of  Divine  but  not  of  human  power. 
Upon  this  glorying  in  a  vain  sense  of  supreme 
power  breaks  the  despised  warning  of  the  sooth- 
sayer, who  bids  Caesar  "  beware  the  Ides  of 
March."  Caesar  passes  with  triumphal  music  in 
the  hope  to  return  crowned.  Cassius  remains  to 
work  on  at  his  endeavour  to  bring  Brutus  into  the 
conspiracy  already  formed  for  saving  Kome  from  a 
sole  master  by  killing  Caesar.  The  whole  dialogue 
between  them  has  this  meaning.     Distant  shouta 


14  INTHODUCTIOS. 

of  the  people  cause  Brutus  to  express  his  fear  that 
they  choose  Ciesar  for  their  king  • 

"  Cassi-us.  Ay,  do  you  fear  it  f 

Then  must  I  think  you  would  not  have  it  so. 

Brutus.  I  would  not,  Cassius  ;  yet  I  love  him  well." 

In  the  dialogue  between  them  Cassius  is  the 
speaker ;  the  words  of  Brutus  are  not  answers  to 
his  persuasion,  but  detached  expression  of  his  owd 
thought  prompted  once  and  again  by  the  shouting 
of  the  people.  And  Cassius,  though  he  is  seeking 
to  lead  Brutus,  is  unable  to  put  his  argument  uj»ou 
ground  higher  than  that  which  satisli'^s  himself. 
It  is  based  on  personal  resentment  that  another 
man  should  be  accounted  greater  than  himself. 
For  this  reason,  Shakespeare  has  not  allowed 
Brutus  to  speak  a  word  that  would  associate  Li.s 
way  of  reasoning  with  that  of  Cassius.  Only  he 
asks  at  last  that  he  may  not  be  any  farther 
moved ;  but  he  is  so  far  won  that  while  indicating 
knowledge  of  his  brother-in-law's  aim,  and  wilt 
ingness  to  find  occasion  to  hear  more  : 

•'  Till  then,  my  noble  friend,  chew  upon  this : 
Brutus  had  rather  be  a  villager 
Than  to  repute  himself  a  son  of  Rome     - 
Under  these  hard  conditiona  fto  this  time 
la  like  to  lay  upon  ub. 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

Cassius.  I  am  glad 

That  my  weak  words  have  struck  but  thus  much  show 
Of  fire  from  Brutus." 

Csesar  then  passes,  on  his  return  from  disappoint- 
ment, with  the  angry  spot  upon  his  brow.  The 
people,  as  we  learn  presently  from  Casca,  had 
applauded,  not  the  offer  of  the  crown,  but  the  show 
made  of  rejection,  that  it  might  be  urged  upon  him 
by  their  voices.  Vexation  had  been  great  enough 
to  bring  on  an  attack  of  the  epilepsy  to  which  he 
was  subject,  and  as  he  passes  he  observes  the  eye  of 
Oassius  upon  him,  of  Cassius  ''who  looks  quite 
through  the  deeds  of  men."  His  irritation  of 
mind,  blended  with  the  knowledge  of  men  that 
had  helped  Caesar  to  power,  then  fastens  upon 
Cassius,  whom  he  describes  to  Antony  with  a 
real  insight  into  the  danger  of  his  character  which 
sums  up  what  has  been  shown  in  the  preceding 
argument  of  Cassius  with  Brutus  : — 

"  Such  men  as  he  are  never  at  heart's  ease 
Whiles  they  behold  a  greater  than  themselves  ; 
And  therefore  are  they  very  dangerous." 

Then  he  assumes  the  god  : 

"  I  rather  tell  thee  what  is  to  be  feared 
Than  what  I  fear, — for  always  I  am  Ccesar}^ 

To   which   Shakespeare  at  once  adds  a  dramatic 


lo'  INTRODUCTION. 

toucli  of  irony  on  the  frail  man  who  speaks  like  an 
eternal  power  : 

"  Come  on  my  right  side,  for  this  ear  is  deaf, 
And  tell  me  truly  what  thou  think'st  of  him." 

When  Casca  has  been  plucked  by  the  sleeve, 
and  has  told  in  terms  bluntly  contemptuous  the 
tale  of  Caesar's  disappointment,  Cassius  does  not 
part  with  him  till  he  has  bidden  him  to  his  house. 
Then  Brutus  parts  from  Cassius,  with  renewed  in- 
dication that  he  may  be  won,  since  he  is  willing  to 
hear  more. 

"  For  this  time  I  will  leave  you  : 
'"o-morrow,  if  you  please  to  speak  with  me, 
I  will  come  home  to  you  ;  or,  if  you  will, 
■iJome  home  to  me,  and  I  will  wait  for  you. 

Cassius.  I  will  do  so  : — till  then,  think  of  the  world." 

"  Think  of  the  world  !  "  says  Cassius  in  parting, 
consciously  playing  on  his  brother-in-law's  un- 
selfish devotion  to  whatever  he  may  be  brought  to 
regard  as  thq  common  good.  That  "he  knows  liim- 
jelf  to  be  playing  with  what  selfish  men  regard  as 
weakness  in  a  nature  higher  than  their  own, 
Shakespeare  shows  by  taking  us  down  at  once  into 
the  mind  of  Cassius.  It  is  to  be  remembered 
always  that  a  soliloquy  or  an  aside  in  Shakespeare, 


INTRODUCTION  17 

and  in  our  English  dramatists  generally,  represents 
unspoken  thought : 

"  think  of  the  world. 

[Uxit  Brutus, 
Well,  Brutus,  thou  art  noble  ;  yet,  I  see, 
Thy  honourable  mettle  may  be  wrought 
From  that  it  is  disposed  :  therefore,  't  is  meet 
That  noble  minds  keep  ever  with  their  likes  ; 
'         For  who  so  firm  that  cannot  be  seduced  ? 

Caesar  doth  bear  me  hard  ;  but  he  loves  Brutus  : 
If  I  were  Brutus  now,  and  he  were  Cassius, 
He  should  not  humour  me." 

And   he    plans    then    throwing  writings  in  his 

way    that  seem    to    represent   voices    of   Roman 

citizens — 

"  all  tending  to  the  great  opinion 

That  Rome  holds  of  his  name  ;  wherein  obscurely 
Caesar's  ambition  shall  be  glanced  at." 

Between  the  second  and  third  scenes  of  the 
First  Act  a  month  has  passed.  The  two  first 
scenes  of  the  play  represent  Csesar's  attempt  to 
obtain  the  crown  from  the  people  in  the  middle  of 
February,  at  the  Feast  of  Lupercal.  The  story 
proceeds  now  to  the  fifteenth  of  March,  when 
Csesar  sought  to  be  crowned  by  the  Senate. 
From  the  heavens  in  storm  in  the  third  scene  of 
the  First  Act,  to  the  full  bursting  of  the  storm  oi 
civil  fury  at  the  end  of  the  Third  Act,  we  are  in 


\8  INTRODUCTION. 

the  Ides  of  INIarch.  The  action  extends  over  one 
night  and  day;  the  day  of  Csesar's  murder  and  the 
night  before  it. 

Of  the  portents  that  formed  part  of  P]  starch's 
record,  Shakespeare  makes  throughout  a  poetical 
use,  joining  them  with  the  course  of  events,  to 
represent  offended  Heaven  and  the  presence  of  a 
higher  power  in  affairs  of  men.  The  conspirators 
are  gathering  in  Pompey's  porch,  under  "a  tempest 
dropping  lire,"  safe  against  observation  in  deserted 
streets.  But  Brutus  is  not  yet  em-olled  among 
their  number,  although  Cassius  has  so  used  the  time 
that  but  a  few  words  on  the  eve  of  Caesar's  second 
attempt  to  be  crowned,  a  few  words  representing 
that  the  plan  is  formed,  and  that  the  blow  will  be 
struck  against  tyranny  whether  Bnitus  give  it 
countenance  or  no,  will  be  enough  to  win  him. 
The  conspirators  are  meeting  in  Pompey's  porch ; 
Cassius  has  not  yet  joined  them,  and  Metellus 
Cimber  has  been  sent  to  his  house  to  fetch  him. 
Under  such  conditions  the  scene  opens  with  Casca 
meeting  Cicero  in  the  portentous  storm  that 
suggests 

"  Either  there  is  a  civil  strife  in  heaven, 
Or  else  the  world,  too  saucy  with  the  gods, 
Incenses  them  to  send  destruction." 


niTROBUCTION.  19 

To  Cftsca's  recital  of  the  prodigies  that  moved  men's 
mindB,  Cicero's  answer  is — 

"  Indeed,  it  is  a  strange-disposed  time  ; 
But  men  may  construe  things,  after  their  fashion, 
Clean  from  the  purpose  of  the  things  themselves. 
Comes  Caesar  to  the  Capitol  to-morrow  /  " 

Caesar  was  to  fall,  not  for  ills  done,  but  for 
the  ills  he  might  do  if  he  wore  a  crown.  "  Mis- 
trust of  good  success,"  and  "  hateful  Error,  Melan- 
choly's child,"  would  do  this  deed.  So  Cassius, 
next  meeting  Casca,  interprets  the  signs  in  the 
heavens  "  clean  from  their  purpose  "  as  portending 
a  just  war  against  the  tyranny  of  Csesar : 


"  Now  oould  I,  Casca,  name  to  thee  a 
Most  like  this  dreadful  night ; 
That  thunders,  lightens,  opens  graves,  and  roan 
As  doth  the  lion  in  the  Capitol." 

And  Casca  recalls  that, 

"  Indeed,  they  say  the  senators  to-morrow 
Mean  to  establish  Ccesar  as  a  king  ; 
And  he  shall  wear  his  crown  by  sea  and  land, 
In  every  place,  save  here  in  Italy." 

Oewsius  has  won  Casca  to  fellowship  in  the  ooii- 
apiracy,  when  Cinna,  who  has  been  sent  as  a 
second  messenger  after  Metellus  Cimber  to  find  the 
mifising  chief,  interrupts  their  talk  m  the  dm'k- 


20  INTfiODUCTION. 

Qess    broken    only  by  the   meteors  and  Ugbtning 

flashei. 

"  Ca*ca,  Stand  close  awMle,  for  here  oomes  one  in  haste. 

Cas.  'T  is  Cinna  ;  I  do  know  him  by  hia  g'ait : 
He  is  a  friend. — Cinna,  where  haste  you  so  ? 

Cin.  To  find  out  you.    'WTio  's  that  ?    Metellus  Cimber ! 

Cas.  No,  it  is  Casca  ;  one  incorporate 
To  our  attempts.     Am  I  not  stayed  for,  Cinna  ? 

Cin.  I  am  glad  on 't.     What  a  fearful  night  is  this  I 
There  's  two  or  three  of  us  have  seen  strange  sights. 

Cas.  Am  I  not  stayed  for  1    Tell  me. 

Cin.  Yes,  you  are.     O  Cassius  !     If  you  could 
But  win  the  noble  Brutus  to  our  party." 

Cassius  is  cool  for  action ;  but  in  other  men  the 
storm  that  suggests  anger  of  the  gods  begets  fear 
that  seeks  shelter  under  the  good  name  of  Brutus, 
soul  of  honour,  whom  men  trust  for  his  known 
worth,  and  whom  the  gods  must  love.  The  act 
is  closed  with  emphasis  upon  the  reason  for  the 
strong  endeavour  to  win  assent  from  Brutus  to  the 
murdering  of  Caesar.     Casca  says  : 

'  Oh,  he  sits  high  in  all  the  people's  hearts. 
And  that  which  would  appear  offence  in  ub, 
His  countenance,  like  richest  alchymy, 
Will  change  to  yirtue  and  to  worthineaa." 

Caseius  replies  : 

*'  Him,  and  his  worth,  and  our  great  need  of  hlxD; 
You  have  right  well  conceited.     Let  us  go, 


INTEODUCTION.  iSl 

For  It  ia  after  midnight ;  and,  ere  day^ 
We  will  awake  him,  and  be  sure  of  him," 

The  first  scene  of  the  Second  Act  shows  Brutus 
awake  already,  made  sleepless  by  the  thought  that 
Cassius  has  for  a  month  past  been  diligently 
prompting,  with  the  aid  of  false  shows  of  a  Roman 
people  calling  upon  Brutus  to  save  Borne  from  the 
creation  of  a  tyrant : 

"  Since  Cassius  first  did  whet  me  against  Csesar, 
I  have  not  slept." 

Now,  on  tne  night  before  Cassar's  second  grasp 
towards  a  crown,  which  will  be  surely  granted  by 
the  Senate  in  the  Capitol,  Brutus  has  left  his  bed, 
paces  his  orchard,  wakens  his  boy,  Lucius,  to 
provide  light  in  his  study,  reads  by  the  light  of 
exhalations  whizzing  in  the  air  one  of  the  mis- 
leading papers  studiously  set  by  Cassius  in  his 
way.  We  are  shown  by  a  soliloquy  the  reasons 
that  have  brought  Brutus,  through  anguish  of  a 
mind  at  war  within  itself,  to  the  belief  that  there 
is  no  way  to  secure  the  good  of  Rome  except  by 
Caesar's  death.  Here  Shakespeare  represents  Bru- 
tus as  surrendering  his  better  judgment  to  no  good 
reason  for  an  evil  deed : 

"  for  my  part, 

I  know  no  personal  causa  to  spurn  at  hina. 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

But  for  the  general  .... 

to  speak  tntli  of  GsBsar, 
I  h»Te  not  knowTi  when  his  affections  swayed 
More  than  his  reason.*' 

But  just  men  ambitious  of  a  crown  have  often 
changed  their  nature,  scorned  the  base  degrees  hj 
which  they  rose,  and  had  a  sting  put  into  them  : — 

"  So  Cfesar  may  : 
Then,  lest  he  may,  prevent" 

There  is  no  more  tlian  mistrust;  no  argument 
that  could  have  swayed  the  mind  of  Brutus 
without  help  from  Cassius,  who  had  worked 
steadily,  and  with  intimate  knowledge  of  that 
hereditary  zeal  for  liberty  which  might  possibly  be 
urged  until  it  passed  the  bounds  of  reason  in 
endeavour  to  secure  the  common  good. 

When  Cassius  brings  the  conspirators  to  Brutua 
Ln  his  orchard,  there  is  recoil  from  the  shameful 
aspect  of  conspiracy  that  fears  to  show  its  face, 
but  a  few  words  whispered  apart  by  Cassius  to 
Binitus  suffice  to  make  him  one  of  the  confedemtes. 
Few  words  would  then  suffice. — To-morrow  Caesar 
would  be  crowned  in  the  Capitol.  But  he  will  be 
struck  down.  Here  are  the  men  who  will  do  it — 
with  you  or  without  you.  With  you  they  strike 
for  liberty  with  the  least  risk  to  Rome;     Are  yo^x 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

with  us?  If  you  are,  there  is  no  time  left  for 
delay  in  showing  it. — While  Brutus  and  Cassius 
whisper  apart,  a  few  words  of  talk  among  the 
other  conspirators,  as  to  the  place  of  sunrise, 
indicate  dawn  of  the  fatal  day,  and  end  in  a  stage 
group,  that  speaks  to  the  eye,  of  cloaked  conspira- 
tors, from  among  whom  a  sword  points  directly  to 
the  Capitol,  which  in  the  play  is  throughout  taken 
as  the  place  of  the  assassination.  To  the  group  so 
formed  Brutus  approaches,  ready  to  join  hands 
with  the  conspirators.  He  will  have  no  oaths, 
no  cruelties,  and  the  weight  of  influence  in  men  of 
noble  character  is  shown,  here  and  in  later  scenes, 
by  the  readiness  of  all  who  are  about  liim  to  be 
ruled  by  the  opinion  of  Brutus.  Cassius  is  ready 
to  ask  Cicero  to  stand  with  them.  Casca  says, 
"  Let  us  not  leave  him  out."  Cinna  says,  "  No, 
by  no  means."  Metellus  adds,  "O  let  us  have 
him."  Brutus  dissuades,  and  Cassius  says,  "  Then 
leave  him  out ;  "  and  Casca  says,  "  Indeed,  he  is 
not  fit."  Decius  asks,  "Shall  no  man  else  be 
touched,  but  only  Csesar  1 "  Cassius  then,  with 
good  practical  insight  from  the  point  of  view  of 
the  conspiracy,  urges  that  Mark  Antony  will  be 
found  a  shrewd  contriver  if  he  outlive  Caesar.  He 
too  should  fall     Brutus  dissuades,  and   althouob 


24  USTEODUCTION. 

Cassius  sajs,  **  Yet  I  fear  him,"  he  is  spared,  with 
the  comment  of  Trebonius,  "There  is  no  fear  in 
him ;  let  him  not  die ;  for  he  will  live,  and  laugh  at 
this  hereafter." 

The  eighth  hour  of  the  day  novr  da-vTuing  ia  ap- 
pointed for  the  murder.  Caius  Ligarius  is  named 
as  one  who  has  been  hardly  used  by  Csesar  and 
might  join  them.  "He  loves  me  well,"  says 
Brutus.  "  Send  him  but  hither,  and  I  '11  fashion 
him; "  and  at  the  close  of  the  scene,  when  he  enters 
it  is  to  emphasise  the  influence  of  a  high  character 
upon  surrounding  men.  Ligarius  has  risen  from  a 
gick-bed  at  the  call  to  Brutus.     Brutus  says  to  him  : 

"  0,  what  a  time  have  yon  chose  out,  brave  Cains, 
To  wear  a  kerchief  I    Would  you  were  not  sick." 

To  which  his  answer  is — 

**  I  am  not  sick,  if  Brutus  have  in  hand 
Any  ezploit  worthy  the  name  of  honour." 

But  before  the  scene  so  closes,  Portia  has  followed 
Brutus  into  the  orchard,  urging  that  she  may  share 
the  secret  that  has  troubled  his  mind,  changed  his 
manner,  brought  strange  men  at  night  to  converse 
with  him,  **some  six  or  seven  that  did  hide  their 
faces  even  f»^m  the  darkness."     Her  urging  brings 


INTEODUCTION.  25 

out  the  deep  music  of  the  love  that  is  between  them. 
"  Yon  are,"  he  says,  "  my  true  and  honourable  wife, 
as  dear  to  me  as  are  the  ruddy  drops  that  visit  my 
sad  heart."  Ahd  she  had  not  pleaded  in  vain  for 
fullest  confidence,   when  Ligarius  knocked  at  the 

loot. 

"  0  ye  goda  I 
Render  me  worthy  of  this  noble  wife  I  [Knocking, 
Hark,  hark  I  one  knocks  : — Portia,  go  in  awhile  ; 
And  by-and-by  thy  bosom  shall  partake 
The  secrets  of  my  heart : — 
All  my  engagements  I  will  construe  to  thee, 
All  the  char&ctery  of  my  sad  brows." 

I31  the  second  scene  of  the  Second  Act,  portents, 
dreams,  and  persuasions  of  his  wife  cause  delay,  and 
?Jinost  withhold  Csesar  from  the  Capitol,  to  which 
he  is  drawn  by  flatteries  of  those  who  lead  him  to 
his  death.  There  is  no  flattery  from  Brutus  ;  the 
only  words  he  speaks  have  for  him  dread  signi- 
ficance :  "  Caesar,  'tis  stricken  eight."  His  closinjg 
thought  is  of  repugnance  to  hypocrisy,  when  Csesar 
says  to  the  conspirators  surrounding  him  : 

"  Good  friends,  go  in,  and  taste  some  wine  with  ine  ; 
And  we,  like  friends,  will  straightway  go  together,  * 

A.nd  the  reflection  of  Brutus  is 

"  That  every  like  is  not  the  same,  O  OaBsar, 
The  heart  of  Brutus  yearns  to  think  apan," 


26  INTBODUCTION. 

Then  the  act  ends  with  Artemidonis  waiting  to 
warn  Caesar  ;  and  Portia  at  her  house-door,  who  has 
learnt  the  secrets  of  her  husband,  which  fill  all  her 
mind  and  heart  with  a  wife's  over-wrought  passion 
of  love  and  anxiety  for  Brutus.  The  two  passages 
that  bring  Portia  herself  into  the  story,  are  thus 
made  to  give  deep  and  full  expression  to  the 
strength  of  the  home  love  between  her  and  Brutus. 
The  Third  Act  opens  with  Csesar  on  his  passage 
to  the  Capitol,  and  in  the  Capitol  surrounded  by 
the  Senate.  He  has  not  listened  to  the  warnings 
on  his  path.  One  not  in  league  with  the  conspira- 
tors wishes  them,  as  he  passes,  success  in  thfcir 
enterprise,  and  then  proceeds  to  speak  with  Caesar. 
There  is  a  dramatic  movement  of  anxiety  as  they 
hurry  their  preparations  in  swift  speech  together ; 
but  Csesar  "doth  not  change,"  and  they  are  not 
beti-ayed-  Then  as  the  conspirators  gather  about 
Caesar — surrounding  him  as  if  joined  in  support 
to  the  plea  of  Metellus  Cimber  for  the  recall  of 
his  brother  Publius  from  banishment  —  from  the 
midst  of  the  swords  that  in  another  minute  will 
be  drawn  to  slay  him,  Caesar,  with  his  last  breath, 
assumes  the  god,  and  says, 

**  I  am  constant  as  the  ucrthem  star, 
Of  whose  true-fixed  aud  resting  quality 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

There  ie  no  fellow  in  the  firmament. 
The  skies  are  painted  with  nnnumbered  spasla, 
They  are  all  fire,  and  every  one  doth  shine  ; 
But  there 's  but  one  in  all  doth  hold  his  place  : 
So  in  the  world, — 't  is  furnished  well  with  men. 
And  men  are  flesh  and  blood,  and  apprehensive  ; 
Yet  in  the  number,  I  do  know  but  one 
That  unassailable  holds  on  his  rank, 
TJnshak'd  of  motion." 


To  Cinna,  further  urging,  he  cries,  "  Hence  !  wilt 
thou  lift  up  Olympus?"  And  in  this  mood  the 
earthly  god  becomes  a  bleeding  piece  of  clay. 

Upon  the  tyrannicide  follows  the  revolutionary 
cry,  "Liberty!  Freedom!  Tyranny  is  dead!"  With 
hands  washed  in  the  blood  of  Csesar,  the  conspira- 
tors cry  "  Peace,"  and  look  to  be  remembered  as 
"  the  men  that  gave  their  country  liberty." 

But  as  they  sowed  they  reap.  Antony  proves, 
as  Cassius  feared  he  would,  **  a  shrewd  contriver." 
Having  sent  before  him  a  true  promise,  though  in- 
geniously misleading,  that  he  would  follow  Brutus 
if  Brutus  could  resolve  him  "  how  Cajsar  hath 
deserved  to  lie  in  death,"  Antony  is  received  gener- 
ously by  Brutus,  who,  confident  in  the  purity  of 
his  own  purpose,  has  no  doubt  that  he  can  prove 
all  to  have  been  done  for  the  common  good.  But 
Cassius  joins  to  the  argument  of  Brutus  touching 


28  INTKODUCTION, 

right  and  duty  only,  the  suggestion  that  to  his 
mind  appears  more  persuasive : 

''Your  voice  shall  be  as  strong  as  any  man's 
In  the  disposing  of  new  dignities." 

When  Antony,  with  manly  and  full  expression 
of  his  love  to  Csesar,  obtains  leave  from  Brutus  to 
speak  in  the  order  of  his  funeral,  Cassius  again 
uses  his  shrewder  knowledge  of  a  world  that  is  not 
as  it  seems. 

"  Brutus,  a  word  with  you. — 
You  know  not  what  you  do :  do  not  consent 
That  Antony  speak  in  his  funeral. 
Know  you  how  much  the  people  may  be  moved 
By  that  which  he  will  utter?" 

But  again  the  influence  of  Brutus,  who  brings 
faith  in  the  justice  of  his  cause,  and  a  large  spirit 
of  humanity,  into  tlie  crooked  counsels  of  con- 
spiracy, prevails.  Cassius,  in  such  a  world,  would 
be  more  fit  to  lead.  "  I  know  not  what  may  fall,'* 
Cassius  says  as  he  yields,  "  I  like  it  not." 

When  Antony,  left  alone  with  the  body  of 
Csesar,  has  prophesied  the  curse  of  civil  vrar  on 
Italy,  the  tidings  brought  by  the  servant  of 
Octavius  that  his  master  is  within  seven  leagues 
of  Rome  prepares  the  way  for  immediate  action,  if 
Antony  succeed  in  stirring  up  the  people  to  revolt; 


Il^TRODUGTION,  29 

the   coming   of   the   serv^ant   also   gives   dramatic 
action  to  the  removal  of  the  body  from  the  stage. 

In  the  Forum  Scene  it  may  be  observed  that 
Brutus  speaks  in  prose  with  brief  expression  of 
what  he  believes  to  be  the  sufficient  reason  for  the 
death  of  Csesar ;  while  the  speech  of  Antony,  who 
begins  with  the  whole  mind  of  the  populace 
against  him,  and,  to  secure  hearing,  tells  the  people 
that  he  comes  "  to  bury  Cj:esar,  not  to  praise  him," 
is  a  piece  of  studied  rhetoric,  designed  to  feel  its 
way  and  rise  in  boldness  until  it  has  stirred  the 
blood  of  all  to  fury.  He  undermines  the  accusa- 
tion of  ambition,  and  pauses  to  give  time  for  the 
effect  of  this  to  appear.  Then  he  shows,  but  does 
not  read,  Caesar's  will,  with  hints  of  large  gifts  in 
it  to  the  people.  Then  he  shows  Caesar's  body, 
but  not  until  he  has  worked  emotion  up  by  skilful 
dealing  with  the  mantle  under  which  it  lies.  By 
that  time  he  has  raised  the  people  into  fury  against 
traitors ;  but  while  they  are  rushing  to  revenge, 
crying  burn,  fire,  kill,  slay,  he  stays  them  for  the 
climax  of  his  appeal,  which  is  not  to  their  hearts 
but  to  their  pockets.  They  have  not  heard  the 
will 

"  To  every  Roman  citizen  lie  gives, 
To  every  several  man,  seventy-five  drachmas,'* 


30  ENTRODUGTIOir. 

"  with  all  hifl  walks,  his  private  arbours,  and  new- 
planted  orchards  on  this  side  Tiber."  Now  they 
may  be  let  slip  at  their  prey.  "  Mischief,  thou  art 
afoot,"  says  Antony,  "  Take  thou  what  course 
thou  wilt."  Tidings  follow  of  the  flight  of  Brutus 
and  Cassius  from  Rome,  and  of  the  entrance  of 
Octavius.  The  last  scene  of  the  act  shows  civil 
fury  at  its  height  among  the  populace.  Raging  to 
bum  and  slay,  they  meet  Cinna  the  Poet,  mistake 
him,  when  they  discover  his  name,  for  Cinna  the 
Conspirator,  and  are  about  to  tear  him  to  pieces, 
when  it  is  vain  for  him  to  tell  them  that  he  is 
Oinna  the  Poet,  Their  blood  is  up,  and  they  are 
raging  to  destroy. 

**Cin,  I  am  Cinna  the  Poet  ;  I  am  Cinna  the  Poet. 
4  at.  Tear  him  for  his  bad  verses,  tear  him  for  his 
bod  verses. 

Cin.  I  am  not  Cinna  the  Conspirator. 

2  Cit.  It  is  no  matter,  his  name  's  Cinna  :  pluck  hi« 
name  ont  of  his  heart,  and  tnm  him  going. 

3  Cit.  Tear  him,  tear  him  I  " 

So  much  for  the  liberation  of  the  peopla 

The  first  scene  of  the  Fourth  Act  opens  vrith 
showing  how  little  Las  been  gained  by  the  rem  ova) 
of  a  tyranny.  The  triumvirs  are  seen  in  counsel 
pricking  men  for  death  by  their  own  absolute  will. 


INTBODUCTION.  31 

and  (m   the   b'ghtest   impulses  of  petty  jealousy 
among  themselves. 

"Antony.  These  many,  then,  shall  die;  their  namee 
are  pricked. 

Oet.  Your  brother  too  must  die :  consent  yon, 
Lepidus  7 

Lepidus.  I  do  consent — 

Oct.  Prick  him  down,  Antony. 

Zep,  Upon  condition  Publius  sliall  not  live, 
Who  is  your  sister's  son,  Mark  Antony. 

Ant.  He  shall  not  live ;  look,  with  a  spot  I  da.mn  him.** 

There  could  not  be  more  vivid  expression  of  the 
failure  to  reap  good  fruit  from  an  evil  deed. 
Murder  of  Cassar  has  at  once  produced  the  ills  that 
Brutus  would  have  given  his  own  life  to  avert. 
At  once  the  scene  passes  to  preparation  for  new 
discords  in  the  future.  If  three  men  share  the 
supreme  power,  first  the  weakest  must  go  to  the 
wall ;  and  that  is  Lepidus,  who  is  at  once  treated  by 
his  colleagues  as  "a  slight  unmeritable  man,  meet 
to  be  sent  on  errands."  In  a  later  scene  there  is  a 
glance  that  indicates  the  rivalry  to  come  between 
Octavius  and  Antony.  But  after  the  short  opening 
scene  of  the  Fourth  Act — which  shows  the  ruin  of 
the  hope  that  had  caused  Brutus  to  take  part  in  a 
policy  of  doing  evil  that  a  good  might  follow — the 
one  theme  of  the  rest  of  the  act  is  Brutus.     H«» 


32  INTBODUCTION. 

has  brought  desolation  upon  his  couatry,  and  upoii 
his  home;  for  he  has  learnt  that  Portia,  made 
desperate  by  the  griefs  with  which  she  was  sur- 
rounded, swallowed  fire,  and  so  inflicted  on  herself  a 
cruel  death.  The  suppressed  anguish  in  the  mind 
of  Brutus  gives  its  character  to  all  that  is  said 
or  don©  by  him.  There  is  no  part  of  Shakespeare 
that  surpasses  in  spiritual  beauty  the  Fourth  Act 
of  Julius  Ccesar,  which  represents  the  bruised  spirit 
of  Brutus,  with  its  short-lived  powers  of  resents 
ment  and  its  depths  of  tenderness  laid  open  by  the 
stir  of  half-suppressed  emotion.  Neither  the  times 
nor  his  stoic  philosophy  will  suffer  him  to  sob  his 
heart  out  for  the  cruel  death  of  the  wife  dearly 
loved :  a  death  tliat  was  among  thousands  of 
calamities,  public  and  private,  that  had  come  of 
the  assassination-  He  had  killed  his  wife  in 
stabbing  Csesar. 

What  is  known  as  the  Quarrel  Scene  between 
Brutus  and  Cassius,  represents  in  Brutus,  the 
quiver  of  suppressed  emotion  from  his  own  deep- 
seated  private  grief  passing  into  unwonted  emo- 
tion of  resentment  at  what  looked  in  Cassiua  like 
want  of  honour  and  of  friendly  care.  Cassiiui  is 
quick  of  temper ;  Brutus  habitually  calm.  But 
Oassius  has  now  to  wonder  at  the  sensitiveness  of 


INTBODUCTION.  38 

his  friend,  whose  anger  has  but  a  short  life,  and 
whose  amends  for  it  are  generous  and  full- 

"  Hath  Cassius  lived 
To  be  but  mirtli  and  laughter  to  his  Brutus, 
VS'Txen  grief  and  blood  ill-tempered,  vexeth  him  ? 

Brutug.  When  I  spoke  that,  I  was  ill-tempered  too. 

Casfiug.  Do  you  confess  so  much  J    Give  me  your  hand 

Brutus.  And  my  heart  too." 

But  when  the  Poet  breaks  in  to  reconcile  the 
generals,  it  is  Brutus  who  is  nervously  impatient 
of  his  interference,  Cassius  who  says,  "  Bear  with 
him."  When  Brutus  has  called  for  wine,  that  he 
may  pledge  Cassius,  and  gain  perhaps  some  arti- 
ficial strength  to  restrain  utterances  of  his  tortured 
spirit,  Cassius  says : — 

"  I  did  not  think,  you  could  have  been  so  angry, 

Brutus.  0  Cassius  I     I  am  sick  of  many  griefs. 

Cassius.  Of  your  philosophy  you  make  no  use, 
If  you  give  place  to  accidental  evils. 

Brutus.  No  man  bears  sorrows  better. — Portia  is 
deai 

Cassius.  Ha,  Portia  ? 

Brutus.  -^She  is  dead. 

Cassius.  How  'scaped  I  killing  when  I  Grossed  you 

80?" 

In  the  following  Council  of  War  the  character  of 
Brutus  secures  assent  to  his  plan  of  marching  at 
once  to  Philippi,  though  again  the  policy  of  Cassius 
is  the  more  astute.     After  the  Council  haa  broken 


34  INTRODUCTION. 

tip,  the  tenderness  in  the  soul  of  Brutus  takes  new 
forms. 

'♦  Brutus.  Lucius,  my  gown — Farewell,  good  Messala : 
Good  night,  Titinius. — Nolle,  nolle  Cassius, 
Good  night,  and  good  repose. 

Cassthis.  0,  my.dear  brother, 

This  was  an  ill  beginning  of  the  night : 
Kever  come  such  division  'tween  our  souls  I 
Let  it  not,  Brutus. 

Brutus.  Everything  is  well. 

Cassius.  Good  night,  my  lord. 

Brutus.  Good  night,  good  brother.'" 

Then  follows  a  delicate  dramatic  touch  by  which 
Shakespeare  puts  into  the  hand  of  Brutus  the  book 
he  is  to  be  reading  when  Caesar's  ghost  appears  to 
him.  He  takes  his  gown  from  the  hands  of 
Lucius,  gently  observes  upon  his  drowsiness,  and 
when  Yarro  and  Claudius  are  called,  that  they  may 
be  at  hand  for  sending  messages,  his  overflowing 
tenderness  for  others  requires  that  they  shall  sleep 
on  cushions  in  his  tent. 

"  Varro.  So  please  you,  we  will  stand,  and  watch  yoxu 
pleasure. 

Brutus.  I  will  not  have  it  so  ;  lie  down,  good  sirs  ; 
It  may  be,  I  shall  otherwise  bethink  me. 
Look,  Lucius,  here  's  the  book  I  sought  for  so  ; 
I  put  it  in  the  pocket  of  my  gown. 

Lncins.  I  was  sure  your  lordship  did  not  give  it  me. 

Brutus.  Bear  with  me,  good  hoy,  I  am  inaeh  forgetfuU 


INTBODUCTION.  35 

Oan§t  tliou  hold  up  thy  heavy  eyes  awhile, 
And  touch  thy  instrument  a  strain  or  two  ? 

jAL4fiu8.  Ay,  my  lord,  an't  please  you. 

Brvtus.  It  does,  my  boy  i 

7  trouble  thee  too  much,  but  thou  art  willing. 

Lucius,  It  is  my  duty,  sir. 

Brutus.  I  should  not  urge  thy  duty  past  thy  might  ; 
I  know,  young  bloods  look  for  a  time  of  rest. 

Lvbciut.  I  have  slept,  my  lord,  already. 

Brutus,  It  was  well  done,  and  thou  shalt  sleep  again  j 
I  will  not  hold  thee  long ;" 

and  then  from  the  heart  quivering  with  tenderness, 

« if  I  do  live, 
I  will  be  good  to  thee." 

When  the  boy  falls  asleep,  Brutus  takes  thought 
even  to  remove  his  instrument  lest  it  should  fall 
and  break,  and  then  he  sits  to  his  book,  the  whole 
beauty  of  his  character  revealed  to  us,  and  brought 
home  to  our  hearts.  Yet  even  he,  of  purest  cha^ 
racter  with  purest  aim,  has  erred  in  seeking  good 
through  evil.  Brutus  sees  his  evil  spirit  in  the  ghost 
of  Caesar,  whom  he  will  again  see  at  Philippi,  as  he 
faces  the  last  ruin  of  his  vain  hope,  to  win  a  public 
right  through  moral  wrong  by  doing  as  a  patriot 
what  he  would  shrink  from  doing  as  a  man. 

In  the  Fifth  Act  of  Shakespeare's  play  the 
opposing  forces  meet  on  the  plains  of  Philippi,  It 
IS  in  their  choice  of  commands  that  Shakespeare 


86  INTBODUCTION. 

shows  Octaviufl  and  Antony  equal  now  under  press 
of  danger,  but  with  an  element  of  discord  in  the 
imperial  ambition  of  Octavius. 

"  Ant.  Octavius,  lead  your  battle  softly  on, 
Upoa  the  left  hand  of  the  even  field. 

Oct.  Upon  the  right  hand  I ;  keep  thou  the  lett. 
Ant.  "VNTiy  do  you  cross  me  in  this  exigent  f 
Oct.  I  do  not  cross  you,  but  I  will  do  so." 

Portents  again  suggest  the  presence  of  the  goda 
in  the  affairs  of  men.  Even  Cassiua  is  disheartened 
by  the  omens  ;  and  in  the  farewell  between  Cassiua 
and  Brutus,  should  they  never  meet  again,  there  tb 
the  passage,  to  which  I  have  already  referred,  in 
which  Brutus  blames  self-murder  and  finds  it 

**  cowardly  and  vile, 
For  fear  of  what  might  fall,  so  to  prevent 
The  term  of  life  ; " 

he  will  arm  himself  with  patience,  "to  stay  tlic 
Providence  of  those  high  powers  that  govern  us 
below  ; "  but  swerves  from  the  voice  of  his  own 
reason  when  it  is  suggested  that  he  may  be  led  in 
triumph  through  the  streets  of  Roma  The  one 
excess  of  passion  in  him,  overrules  his  judgment  in 
iiis  own  case  as  it  did  in  CaBsar's. 

When  Cassius  bids  Titinius  spur  towards  troops 
an  the  field,  and  bring  word  to  him  whether  they 


IHTBODUCTION.  87 

t^re  friends  or  enemies  (for  all  are  Romans), 
friendly  reception  is  interpreted  as  hostile  capture. 
Oassius  bids  his  slave,  whom  he  sets  free,  hold  the 
sword  on  which  he  is  resolved  to  die. 

*  Guide  thou  the  sword — Caesar,  thou  art  revenged, 
Even  with,  the  sword  that  killed  thee." 

Kevenged  also  by  death  inflicted  on  the  prompt- 
ing of  a  blind  mistrust 

"  Mistrust  of  good  success  hath  done  this  deed," 
says  Messala,  and  adds  a  comment  designed  also  to 
apply  to  the  whole  tale  of  the  conspiracy. 

**  O,  hateful  Error,  Melancholy's  child  ! 
Why  dost  thou  show  to  the  apt  thoughts  of  men 
The  things  that  are  not  ?     0,  Error,  Boon  conceived, 
Thou  never  com'st  unto  a  happy  birth, 
But  kill'st  the  mother  that  engendered  thee  I " 

And  Titinius  adds  like  comment,  as  he  bends  over 

his  master's  body  before  dying  by  his  side  : — "  Alas, 

bhou  hast  misconstrued  everything."     From  Brutus, 

the  comment  is, 

**  0,  Julius  Caesar,  thou  art  mighty  yet  I 
Thy  spirit  walks  abroad,  and  turns  our  swords 
In  our  own  proper  entrails.'^ 

Shall  ire  ask  now  where  the  wit  lay  under  th« 
wigs  of  critics  who  wondered  why  Shakespeare  did 
not  end  the  play  of  Julius  Caesar  with  the  soene  oi 
hifl  assassination  1 


38  INTRODUCTION. 

The  end  of  Brutus  is  associated  with  the  incident 

of  Lucilius  ready  to  die  for  him  ;  and  in  his  own 

last  farewell    with  the  comfort  of    the  man   who 

earned  the  trust  of  all, 

"  My  heart  doth  joy.  that  yet,  in  all  my  life, 
I  foiuid  no  man,  but  he  was  trae  tx)  me." 

Brutus,  too,  dies  upon  the  sword  with  whicli  he  had 

stabbed  Caesar : 

''  Caesar,  now  be  still : 
I  killed  not  thee  with  half  so  good  a  \\'ill." 

And  his  praise  comes  from  the  lips  of  his  opponent : 

"  Antony.  This  was  the  noblest  Roman  of  them  all : 
All  the  conspirators,  save  only  he. 
Did  that  they  did  in  envy  of  great  Ctesar  ; 
He  only,  in  a  general  honest  thought 
Of  common  good  to  all,  made  one  of  them. 
His  life  was  gentle  ;  and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  say  to  all  the  world,  *  This  was  a  man.' " 

If  even  Brutus,  seeking  with  the  noblest  motives 
to  make  evil  his  good,, found  that  evil  sown  was 
evil  reaped,  still  less  can  men  of  lower  lives  hope 
for  success  in  an  attempt  to  advance  public 
good  by  means  that,  if  suggested  for  their  private 
good,  they  would  avoid  as  infamous.  There  is  no 
distinction  between  private  and  public  morality. 
No  politician  can  make  it  without  damaging  his 
cause.  Ff.nry  MoeliSY. 


Julius  Cjisar. 


DRAMATIS  PERSONS. 


JUOT78  C^SAB. 
OCTAVIOS  CiESAB/ 
MABCUa         A-NTO- 
N1U8, 

M.  -iEMiLius  Lepi- 

DD3, 

Cicero,  \ 

PuBLius,  \Se7Uitort. 

P0PILIU3  Lena,  j 

Marcus  Brutus, 

Cassius, 

Casca, 

Tbebonius, 

LiGARIDS, 

Decius  Brutus, 
Metellus  Cimbeb, 

ClNNA, 

Flavius  cmd  Maeullus,  Tn- 
bune». 

SCENE,— Duiing  a  great  part  of  the  Play,  at  Rome:  after- 
wards near  Sardis,  and  near  Philippi. 


Conspi- 
rators 
against 
Julius 
Ccesar. 


Artemidords,  a  Sophist  qf 
Cnidos. 

A  Soothsayer. 

CiNNA,  <x  Poei.  Another  Poet. 

Luciiins,  TiTiNius,  Messala, 
Young  Cato,  Volumnius, 
Friends  to  Brutus  and 
Cassius. 

Varro,  Clitus,  ClacdiuBs, 
Strato,  Lucius,  Dakda- 
NIU8,  Servants  to  Brut".-<. 

PiNDABUS,  Servant  to  Ccu^s,  m^ 

Calphuenia,  Wife  of  Ca.>ar. 
Portia,  Wife  of  Brutus. 

Senators,  Citizens,  Ouardtp 
Attendants,  dec. 


ACT   I. 
ScE?^  I. — Rome.     A  Street 
Enter  Flavius,  Marullus,  and  certain  Com- 
moners over  the  Stage. 
FloAo.  Hence  !  home,  you  idle  creatures,  get  yo» 
home  : 
Is  this  a  holiday  1     What !  know  you  not^ 


40  JTTLIUS   CJESAK.  [Act  I. 

Being  mechanical,  you  ought  not  walk 

Upon  a  labouring  day  without  the  sign 

Of  your  profession  1 — Speak,  what  trade  art  thoa  t 

1  Cit  Why,  sir,  a  carpenter. 

Mar.  Where  is  thy  leather  apron  and  thy  rule  ? 
What  dost  thou  with  thy  best  apparel  on  1 — 
You,  sir,  what  trade  are  you  1 

2  Cit.  Truly,  sir,  in  respect  of  a  fine  workman, 
I  am  but,  as  you  would  say,  a  cobbler. 

Mar.  But  what  trade  art  thou  1  answer  me 
directly. 

2  Cit.  A  trade,  sir,  that  I  hope  I  may  use  with  a 
Bsfe  conscience ;  which  is,  indeed,  sir,  a  mender  of 
bad  soles. 

Mar.  What  trade,  thou  knave  1  thou  nanghty 
knave,  what  trade  1 

2  Cit.  Nay,  I  beseech  you,  sir,  be  not  out  with 
me  :  yet,  if  you  be  out,  sir,  I  can  mend  you. 

Mar.  What  mean'st  thou  by  that?  mend  me, 
thou  saucy  fellow  1 

2  Cit.  Why,  sir,  cobble  you. 

Flav.  Thou  art  a  cobbler,  art  thou  t 

2  Cit.  Truly,  sir,  all  that  I  live  by  is  with  the 
awl ;  I  meddle  with  no  tradesman's  matters,  nor 
women's  matters,  but  with  awl.  I  am,  indeed,  sir, 
a  surgeon   to  old  shoes ;  when  they  are  in  great 


1.]  JULIUS   C^SAB.  41 

danger,  I  re-cover  them.  As  proper  men  as  ever 
trod  upon  neat's-leather  have  gone  upon  my  handi- 
work. 

Flciv.  But  wherefore  art  not  in  thy  shop  to-day  1 
Why  dost  thou  lead  these  men  about  the  streets  1 

2  Cit.  Truly,  sir,  to  wear  out  their  shoes,  to  get 
myself  into  more  work.  But,  indeed,  sir,  we 
make  holiday  to  see  Caesar,  and  to  rejoice  in  his 
triumph. 

Mar.  Wherefore  rejoice  ?     What  conquest  brings 
he  home  1 
What  tributaries  follow  him  to  Rome, 
To  grace  in  captive  bonds  his  chariot  wheels  f 
You  blocks,  you  stones,  you  worse  than  senseless 

things ! 
0  you  hard  hearts,  you  cruel  men  of  Rome, 
Knew  you  not  Pompej  1     Many  a  time  and  oft 
Have  you  climbed  up  to  walls  and  battlements, 
To  towers  and  windows,  yea,  to  chimney-tops, 
Your  infants  in  your  arms,  and  there  have  sat 
The  livelong  clay,  with  patient  expectation, 
To  see  great  Pompey  pass  the  streets  of  E.ome : 
And  when  you  saw  his  chariot  but  appear, 
Have  you  not  made  an  universal  shout, 
Paftt  Tiber  trembled  underneath  her  banks 
To  hear  the  replication  of  your  sounds 


42  JULIUS   CaJSAB.  [ActL 

Made  in  her  concave  shores 

And  do  YOU  now  put  on  your  best  attire, 

And  do  you  now  cull  out  a  holiday, 

And  do  you  now  strew  flowers  in  his  way 

That  comes  m  triumph  over  Pompey's  blood  ? 

Be  gone  ! 

Run  to  your  houses,  fall  upon  your  knees, 

Pn\y  to  the  gods  to  intemiit  the  plague 

That  needs  must  light  on  this  ingratitude. 

Flav.   Go,    go,    good    countiymen,    and  for   this 
fault 
Assemble  all  the  poor  men  of  your  sort : 
Draw  them  to  Tiber  banks  and  weep  your  tears 
Into  the  channel,  till  the  lowest  stream 
Do  kiss  the  most  exalted  shores  of  alL 

[Exeunt  all  the  Coimnoners 
See,  whe'r  their  basest  metal  be  not  moved  : 
They  vanish  tongue-tied  in  their  guiltiness. 
Go  you  down  that  way  towards  the  Capitol : 
This  way  will  I  :  disrobe  the  images 
If  you  do  find  them  decked  with  ceremonies. 

Jfar.   May  we  do  so  1 
You  know  it  is  the  feast  of  LupercaL 

Flav.  It  is  no  matter  ;  let  no  images 
Be  hung  with  Caesar's  trophies.     I  '11  about, 
And  drive  away  the  vulgar  from  the  streets  ; 


Scene  2.]  JULIUS   C^SAR.  43 

So  do  you  too,  where  you  perceive  them  thick. 
These  growing  feathers  phicked  from  Csssar's  wing 
Will  make  him  fly  an  ordinary  pitch, 
Who  else  would  soar  above  the  view  of  men 
And  keep  us  all  in  servile  fearfulness. 

[Exeunt, 


ScEXE  II. — Rome.     A  Public  Place. 

Enter,  in  procession,  with  music,  C^sar  ;  Antony, 
for  the  course;  Calphurnia,  Portia,  Decius, 
Cicero,  Brutus,  Cassius,  and  Casca  ;  a  great 
Crowd  following,  among  them  a  Soothsayer. 

Cces.  Calphurnia, — 

Casca.  Peace,  ho  !  Cassar  speaks. 

[Mtisic  ceases. 

Cces.  Calphurnia, — 

Cal.  Here,  my  lord. 

Cces.  Stand  you  directly  in  Antonius'  way, 
When  he  doth  run  his  course. — Antonius, — 

Ant.  Caesar,  my  lord. 

Cces.  Forget  not,  in  your  speed,  Antonius, 
To  touch  Calphurnia  ;  for  our  elders  say, 
The  barren,  touched  in  this  holy  chase, 
Shake  off  their  sterile  curse. 


44  JUUTJ8   C^SAIt.  [Aott 

Ant,  I  shall  reraemb«r : 

When  CaBsar  says,  *  Do  this,*  it  is  performed. 
C(ES.  Set  on  ;  and  leave  no  ceremony  out. 

[Mtciie. 
Sooth.  Csesar ! 
Ccps.  Ha!     Who  calls! 
Casca.  Bid    every    noise    be    still  : — ^peace   yet 

again  !  [  !//«ic  ceases. 

CcBS.  Who  is  it  in  the  press  that  calls  on  me  1 
I  hear  a  tongue,  shriller  than  all  the  music, 
Cry,  '  Csesar  ! ' — Speak  :  Csesar  is  turned  to  hear. 
Sooth.   Beware  the  ides  of  March  ! 
Cces.  What  man  is  thati 

BrxL  A  soothsayer,  bids  you  beware  the  ides  of 

March. 
Cces.  Set  him  before  me  ;  let  me  see  his  face. 
Cos,  Fellow,  come  from  the  throng  :  look  upon 

Csesar. 
Cces.  What    ^\''st   thou   to   me   nowt      Speak 

once  again. 
Sooth.  Beware  the  ides  of  March  ! 
Cces.  He  is  a  dreaicer  ;  let  us  leave  him  : — pass. 
[^Sennet.     Exeunt  all  hut  Brutus  mid  Cassiur 
Cos    Will  you  go  see  the  order  of  the  course  f 
Bru.  Not  I. 
CcLs.  T  pray  you,  da 


SoenaS.]  JULIUS   C^SAB.  45 

Bru.  I  am  not  gamesome  :  I  do  lack  some  part 
Of  that  quick  spirit  that  is  in  Antony. 
Let  me  not  hinder,  Cassius,  your  desires ; 
I  '11  leave  you. 

Cos.  Brutus,  I  do  observe  you  now  of  late : 
1  have  not  from  your  eyes  that  gentleness 
And  show  of  love  as  I  was  wont  to  have  : 
You  bear  too  stubborn  and  too  strange  a  hand 
Over  your  friend  that  loves  you. 

Bru.  Cassius,  , 

Be  not  deceived  :  if  I  have  veiled  my  look, 
I  turn  the  trouble  of  my  countenance 
Merely  upon  myself.     Vex6d  I  am, 
Of  late,  with  passions  of  some  difference, 
Conceptions  only  proper  to  myself, 
Which  give  some  soil,  perhaps,  to  my  behaviours ; 
But  let  not  therefore  my  good  friends  be  grieved, — 
Among  which  number,  Cassius,  be  you  one, — 
Nor  construe  any  further  my  neglect. 
Than  that  poor  Brutus,  with  himself  at  war, 
Forgets  the  shows  of  love  to  other  men. 

Ccu.  Then,  Brutus,  I  have  much  mistook  yout 
passion ; 
By  means  whereof,  this  breast  of  mine  hath  buried 
Thoughts  of  great  value,  worthy  cogitations, 
Tell  me,  good  Brutus,  can  you  see  your  face  I 


46  JUIJUS  CKSAB.  [Aotr. 

Bru.  No,  Cassius  ;  for  the  eye  sees  not  itself 
But  by  reflection,  by  some  other  things. 

Caa.  T  is  just: 
And  it  is  very  much  lamented,  Brutus, 
That  you  have  no  such  mirrors  as  will  turn 
Your  hidden  yrorthiness  into  your  eye, 
That  you  might  see  your  shadow.     I  have  heard, 
"Where  many  of  the  best  respect  in  Rome, — 
Except  immortal  Caesar, — speaking  of  Brutus, 
Anji  groaning  underneath  tliis  age's  yoke, 
Have  wished  that  noble  Brutus  had  his  eyea. 

^ru.    Into  what  dangers   would  you   lead  me, 
Cassius, 
That  you  would  have  me  seek  into  myself 
For  that  which  is  not  in  me? 

Gas.    Therefore,    good    Brutus,   be   prepared    to 
hear : 
Ajid,  since  you  know  you  cannot  see  yourself 
So  well  as  by  reflection,  I,  your  glass, 
Will  modestly  discover  to  yourself 
That  of  yourself  which  you  yet  know  not  of 
And  be  not  jealous  on  me,  gentle  Brutus  : 
Were  I  a  common  laugher,  or  did  use 
To  stale  with  ordinary  oaths  my  love 
To  every  new  protester  ;  if  you  know 
That  I  do  fa-wTi  on  men,  and  hug  them  hard. 


Scene  2.]  JTIUnS   CM8AR.  47 

And  after  scandal  them ;  or  if  you  know 
That  I  profess  myself  in  banqueting 
To  all  the  rout^  then  hold  me  dangerous. 

[Flon/rishy  and  Shout 

Bru.  What  means  thLs  shouting  1     I  do  fear,  the 
people 
Choose  Oaesar  for  their  king. 

Cos.  Ay,  do  you  fear  it  I 

Then  must  I  think  you  would  not  have  it  sa 

Bru.  I  would  not,  Cassius ;  yet  I  love  him  welL 
But  wherefore  do  you  hold  me  here  so  long  ? 
What  is  it  that  you  would  impart  to  me  ? 
If  it  be  aught  toward  the  general  good, 
Set  honour  in  one  eye  and  death  i'  the  other, 
And  I  will  look  on  both  indifferently : 
For,  let  the  gods  bo  speed  me,  as  I  love 
The  name  of  honour  more  than  I  fear  death. 

Cos.  I  know  that  virtue  to  be  in  you,  Brutua, 
As  well  as  I  do  know  your  outward  favour. 
Well,  honour  is  the  subject  of  my  story. — 
I  cannot  tell  what  you  and  other  men 
Think  of  this  life  ;  but  for  my  single  sel^i 
I  had  as  lief  not  be  as  live  to  be 
In  awe  of  such  a  thing  as  I  myself. 
I  was  bom  free  as  Csesar ;  so  were  you : 
We  both  have  fed  as  well,  and  we  can  both 


4S  JULIUS   CESAB.  \ActV 

Endure  the  winter's  cold  as  well  as  he : 
For  once,  upon  a  raw  and  gusty  day, 
The  troubled  Tiber  chafing  with  her  shorea, 
Caesar  said  to  me,  *  Dar'st  thou,  Cassius,  now 
Leap  in  with  me  into  this  angry  flood, 
Ajid  swim  to  yonder  point  1  * — Upon  the  word, 
Accoutred  as  I  was,  I  plunged  in, 
And  bade  him  follow  :  so,  indeed,  he  did. 
The  torrent  roared,  and  we  did  buffet  it 
With  lusty  sinews,  throwing  it  aside 
And  stemming  it  with  hearts  of  controversy ; 
But  ere  we  could  arrive  the  point  proposed, 
Caesar  cried,  *  Help  me,  Cassius,  or  I  sink.' 
I,  as  ^neas,  our  great  ancestor, 
Did  from  the  flames  of  Troy  upon  his  shoulder 
The  old  Anchises  bear,  so  from  the  waves  of  Tiber 
Did  I  the  tired  Caesar.     And  this  man 
Is  now  become  a  god ;  and  Cassius  is 
A  wretched  creature,  and  must  bend  his  body 
If  Csesar  carelessly  but  nod  on  him. 
He  had  a  fever  when  he  was  in  Spain, 
And  when  the  fit  was  on  him,  I  did  mark 
How  he  did  shake  :  't  is  true,  this  god  did  sluike  : 
His  coward  lips  did  from  their  colour  fly ; 
And   that  same    eye,  whose    bend  doth  awe  th» 
worldt 


Soeaie2.]  JULIUS   CSISAB.  49 

Did  lose  his  lustre.     I  did  hear  him  groan ; 

Ay,  and  that  tongue  of  his,  that  bade  the  Romans 

Mark  him,  and  write  his  speeches  in  their  books, 

Alas,  it  cried,  *  Give  me  some  drink,  Titinius,' 

As  a  sick  giri.     Ye  gods,  it  doth  amaze  me, 

A  man  of  such  a  feeble  temper  should 

So  get  the  start  of  the  majestic  world, 

And  bear  the  palm  alone.  [Shout.     Flourish. 

Bru.  Another  general  shout ! 

I  do  believe  that  these  applauses  are 
For  some  new  honours  that  are  heaped  on  Caesar. 

Cos.  Why,  man,  he  doth  bestride  the  narrow 
world, 
Like  a  colossus ;  and  we  petty  men 
Walk  under  his  huge  legs,  and  peep  about 
To  find  ourselves  dishonourable  graves. 
Men  at  some  time  are  masters  of  their  fates  : 
The  fault,  dear  Brutus,  is  not  in  our  stars, 
But  in  ourselves,  that  we  are  underlings. 
Brutus,  and  Caesar :  what  should  be  in  that  Cresar  I 
Why  should   that   name   be   sounded    more   than 

yours  ] 
Write  them  together,  yours  is  as  fair  a  name ; 
Sound  them,  it  doth  become  the  mouth  as  well  j 
Weigh  them,  it  is  as  heavy ; — conjure  with  'em, 
Brutus  will  stait  a  spirit  as  soon  as  Cssar. 


50  JT7LIU8   C^SAB.  [Act  1. 

Now,  in  the  names  of  all  the  gods  at  once, 
Upon  what  meat  doth  this  our  Caesar  feed, 
That    he    is  grown    so    great  1       Age,    thou    art 

shamed ! 
Rome,  thou  hast  lost  tlie  breed  of  noble  bloo>la ! 
T^Tien  went  there  by  au  age,  since  the  great  Hood, 
But  it  was  famed  with  more  than  with  one  man  1 
When   could   thev   say,    till   now,  that   talked   of 

Rome, 
That  her  wide  walls  encoupassed  but  one  man  1 
Now  is  it  Rome  indeed,  and  room  enough, 
When  there  is  in  it  but  one  only  man. 
O,  you  and  I  have  heard  our  fathers  say. 
There  was  a  Brutus  once  that  would  have  brooked 
The  eternal  devil  to  keep  his  state  in  Rome 
As  easily  as  a  king. 

Bru.    That    you    do    love    me,    I    am    nothing 

jealous ; 
What  you  would  work  me  to,  I  have  some  aim  ; 
How  I  have  thought  of  this,  and  of  these  times, 
I  shall  recount  hereafter  :  for  this  present, 
I  would  not,  so  with  love  I  might  entreat  you. 
Be  any  further  moved.      What  you  have  said, 
I  wiW  consider ;  what  you  have  to  say, 
I  will  with  patience  hear,  and  find  a  time 
Both  meet  to  hear  and  answer  such  high  thinga 


Boeno2.J  JTTLIUS   CSESAB.  51 

Till  then,  my  noble  friend,  chew  upon  thk : 
Brutus  had  rather  be  a  villager 
Than  to  repute  himself  a  son  of  Rome 
Under  these  hard  conditions  as  this  tim« 
Is  like  to  lay  upon  us. 

Cas.  I  am  glad 

That  my  weak  words  have  struck  but  thus  muob 

show 
Of  fire  from  Brutus. 

Bnu    The   games   are  done,   and   Caesar   is    re- 
turning. 

Cas.  As  they  pass  by,  pluck  Oasca  by  the  sleeve^, 
And  he  will,  after  his  sour  fashion,  teU  you 
What  hath  proceeded  worthy  note  to-day. 

Re-enter  Cjesar  and  his  Train, 

Bru.  I  will  do  so. — But,  look  you,  Cassiua> 
The  angry  spot  doth  glow  on  Caesar's  brow, 
And  all  the  rest  look  like  a  chidden  train  : 
Oalphurnia's  cheek  is  pale  ;  and  Cicero 
Looks  with  such  ferret  and  such  fiei-y  eyea 
As  we  have  seen  him  in  the  Capitol, 
Being  crossed  in  conference  by  some  senators. 

Cas.  Casca  will  tell  us  what  the  matter  \sL 

Cces.  Antoniua,-^ 

AnL  0»sar. 


52  JTILinS   C^SAA.  [AcC  L 

CcRg.  Let  me  have  men  about  me  that  are  fat ; 
Sleek-headed  men,  and  Buch  as  sleep  o'  nighta. 
Yond  Cassius  has  a  lean  and  hungry  look  ; 
He  thinks  too  mncli  :  such  men  are  dangerous. 

Ant.  Fear  him  not,  Caesar,  he  'a  not  dangerous; 
He  is  a  noble  Roman,  and  well  given. 

Cces.  'Would  he  were  fatter  !     But  I  fear  him 
not: — 
Yet  if  my  name  were  liable  to  fear, 
I  do  not  know  the  man  I  should  avoid 
So  soon  as  that  spare  Cassius,     He  reads  much ; 
He  is  a  great  observer,  and  he  looks 
Quite  through  the  deeds  of  men ;  he  loves  no  playi^ 
As  thou  dost,  Antony  ;  he  hears  no  music ; 
Seldom  he  smiles,  and  smiles  in  such  a  sort, 
As  if  he  mocked  himself,  and  scorned  his  spirit 
That  could  be  moved  to  smile  at  anything. 
Such  men  as  he  be  never  at  heart's  ease 
Whiles  they  behold  a  greater  than  themselves ; 
And  therefore  are  they  very  dangerous. 
I  rather  tell  thee  what  is  to  be  feared, 
Than  what  I  fear, — for  always  I  am  Caesar. 
Come  on  my  right  hand,  for  this  ear  is  deaf, 
And  tell  me  truly  what  thou  think'st  of  him. 

[Exeunt  Cjssar  and  his  Train.     Casoa 
itays  behind, 


a.J  JUUITS   C^SAB.  53 

Gcuca.  You  pulled  me  hj  the  cloak  :  -would  ywi 
speak  with  me  ? 

Brtb.  Ay,   Casca;   tell  us   what   hath    chanced 
to-day, 
That  Caesar  looks  so  sad. 

Casca.   Why,  you  were  with  him,  were  yoti  not  1 

Bru>    I  should  not  then  ask  Cjisca  what  hath 
chanced. 

Gasca.  Why,  there  was  a  crown  offered  him ; 
and,  being  offered  him,  he  put  it  by  with  the  back 
of  his  hand,  thus ;  and  then  the  people  fell  Or 
shouting. 

Bru.   WTiat  was  the  second  noise  fori 

Casca.  Why,  for  that  toa 

Ca^.  They   shouted   thrice:    what  was  the  last 
cry  for? 

Casca.  Why,  for  that  too. 

Bru.  Was  the  crown  offered  him  thrice  1 

Casca,  Ay,  marry,  was 't,  and  he  put  it  by  thrioe, 
every  time  geatler  than  other ;  and  at  every 
putting-by,  mine  honest  neighbours  shouted. 

C<M.  Who  offered  him  the  crown  1 

Casea.  Why,  Antony, 

Bru.  Tell  us  the  manner  of  it,  gentle  Casca. 

Casca.  I  can  as  well  be  hanged  as  tell  the 
manner  of  it :  U  was  mere  foolery  ;  T  did  not  xsit^k 


64  JITLIUB   C^SAE.  [Act  I. 

it  I  saw  Mark  Antony  offer  him  a  crown; — 
y^et  't  was  not  a  crown  neither,  't  was  one  of  these 
coronets  ; — and,  as  I  told  you,  he  put  it  by  once : 
but,  for  all  that,  to  my  thinking,  he  would  fain 
have  had  it.  Then  he  offered  it  to  him  again ; 
then  he  put  it  by  again  :  but,  to  my  thinking,  he 
was  very  loth  to  lay  his  fingers  off  it.  And  then  he 
offered  it  the  third  time ;  he  put  it  the  third  time 
by :  and  still  as  he  refused  it,  the  rabblement 
shouted,  and  clapped  their  chapped  hands,  and 
threw  up  their  sweaty  night-caps,  and  uttered  such 
a  deal  of  stinking  breath,  because  Csesar  refused 
the  crown,  that  it  had  almost  choked  Caesar;  for 
he  swooned,  and  fell  down  at  it.  And  for  mine 
own  part,  I  durst  not  laugh,  for  fear  of  opening 
my  lips  and  receiving  the  bad  air. 

Cos,  But,    soft,   I    pray  you  :   what,  did  Caesar 
swoon  1 

Casca.  He  fell  down   in  the  market-place,  and 
foamed  at  mouth,  and  was  speechless. 

Bru.  'T  is  very  like :    he   hath   the  falling-sick 
ness. 

Cos.   No,  Caesar  hath  it  not ;  but  you,  and  I, 
And  honest  Casca,  we  have  the  falling-sickness. 

Casca.  I  know  not  what  you  mean  by  that;  but, 
I  urn  sure,  Caesar  fell  down.     If  the  tag-rag  peoplf 


aj  JULIUS   C^SAR.  6& 

did  not  clap  him,  and  hiss  him,  according  aa  he 
pleased  and  displeased  them,  as  they  use  to  do  th& 
players  in  the  theatre,  I  am  no  true  man. 

Bru,  What  said  he,  when  he  came  unto  him- 
self? 

Casca.  Marry,  before  he  fell  down,  when  he  per- 
ceived the  common  herd  was  glad  he  refused  the 
orown,  he  plucked  me  ope  his  doublet,  and  offered 
them  his  throat  to  cut. — An  I  had  been  a  man  of 
any  occupation,  if  I  would  not  have  taken  him  at 
a  word,  I  would  I  might  go  to  hell  among  the 
rogues. — And  so  he  fell.  When  he  came  to  him- 
self again,  he  said,  If  he  had  done  or  said  anything 
amiss,  he  desired  their  worships  to  think  it  was  his 
infirmity.  Three  or  four  wenches,  where  I  stood, 
cried,  '  Alas,  good  soul  1 '  and  forgave  him  with  all 
their  hearts;  but  there's  no  heed  to  be  taken  of 
them  ;  if  Cajsar  had  stabbed  their  mothers,  they 
would  have  done  no  less. 

Bru.  And  after  that,  he  came,  thus  sad,  away  \ 

Casca,  Ay. 

Cas.  Did  Cicero  say  anything  7 

Casca.  Ay,  he  spoke  Greek. 

Cas.  To  what  effect  ? 

Casca.  Nay,  an  I  tell  you  that,  I  '11  ne'er  look 
you  i'  the  face  again ;  but  those  that  uaderstaad  hina 


56  JTUIilUS   C^SAR.  [ActL 

imiled  at  one  another^  and  shook  their  heads  j  but 
for  mine  own  part,  it  was  Greek  to  me.  I  oonld 
tell  jou  more  news  too  :  MaruUus  and  Flavins,  for 
pnlling  scarfs  off  Caesar's  images,  are  put  to  silence. 
Fare  you  well.  There  was  more  foolery  yet,  if  I 
could  remember  it, 

Cds.  Will  YOU  sup  with  me  to-night,  Casca  t 

Caeca.  No,  I  am  promised  forth. 

Cas.  Will  you  dine  with  me  to-morrow  1 

Casca.  Ay,  if  I  be  alive,  and  your  mind  hold, 
and  your  dinner  worth  the  eating. 

Cos.  Good  ;  I  will  expect  you. 

Casca.  Do  so.     Farewell,  both.  [ExU. 

Bra.  What  a  blunt  fellow  is  this  grown  to  be ! 
He  was  quick  mettle  when  he  went  to  school 

Cas.  So  is  he  now,  in  execution 
Of  any  bold  or  noble  entei-prise, 
However  he  puts  on  this  tardy  form. 
This  rudeness  is  a  sauce  to  his  good  wit, 
Which  gives  men  stomach  to  digest  his  words 
With  better  appetita 

Bra.  And  bo  it  is.     For  this  time  I  will  leave 
you : 
To-morrow,  if  you  please  to  speak  with  me, 
I  will  come  home  to  you  ;  or,  if  you  will, 
Come  home  to  me,  and  I  will  wait  for  yon. 


Scfine3.3  JTJIilTJS   CfflSAR.  67 

Coi,  I  will    do   bo: — till    then,   think    of   tht 
world.  [Hgcit  BbUTUI. 

Well,  Brutus,  thou  art  noble ;  yet,  I  see, 
Thy  honourable  metal  may  be  wrought 
From  that  it  is  disposed  :  therefore,  't  is  meet 
That  noble  minds  keep  ever  with  their  likes ; 
For  who  so  firm  that  cannot  be  seduced  ? 
Ceesar  doth  bear  me  hard ;  but  he  loves  Brutus  ; 
If  I  were  Brutus  now,  and  he  were  Cassius, 
He  should  not  humour  me.     I  will  this  night, 
In  several  hands,  in  at  his  windows  throw, 
As  if  they  came  from  several  citizens, 
Writings,  all  tending  to  the  great  opinion 
That  Rome  holds  of  his  name ;  wherein  obsciiff^y 
Oassar's  ambition  shall  be  glanced  at : 
And,  after  this,  let  Ca3sar  seat  him  sure ; 
For  we  will  shake  him,  or  worse  days  endure. 

[Exit 

Scene  TIL — Rome.     A  Street 
Thunder    and    lightning.      £nter,   from,  op^ogiU 
sides f    Casca,    ynth    his    sword    drawn^    and 

OlCEBO. 

Gifi,  Good   even,   Oaaca      Brought  y^u   Oseaar 
hcQidf 


58  JULIUS    C^SAB.  [Actl 

"Why  are  you  breathless,  and  why  stare  you  so  1 
Casca.  Are  not  you  moved,  when  all  the  sway  oi 
earth 
Shakes  like  a  thing  unfirm  ?     O  Cicero  I 
I  have  seen  tempests,  vfhen  the  scolding  winds 
Have  rived  the  knotty  oaks;  and  I  have  seen 
The  ambitious  ocean  swell,  and  rage,  and  foam. 
To  be  exalted  with  the  threatening  clouds : 
But  never  till  to-night,  never  till  now, 
Did  T  go  through  a  tempest  dropping  fire. 
Either  there  is  a  civil  strife  in  heaven, 
Or  else  the  world,  too  saucy  with  the  gods, 
Incenses  them  to  send  destruction. 

Cic.  Why,  saw  you  anything  more  wondeifiil  ? 
Casca.  A  common  slave — you   know  him    well 
by  sight — 
Held  up  his  left  hand,  which  did  flame,  and  bum 
Like  twenty  torches  joined  ;  and  yet  his  hand, 
Not  sensible  of  fire,  remained  unscorched. 
Besides, — I  have  not  since  put  up  my  sword, — 
Against  the  Capitol  I  met  a  lion, 
Who  glared  upon  me,  and  went  surly  by, 
Without  annoying  me  :  and  there  were  drawn 
Upon  a  heap  a  hundred  ghastly  women, 
Transformed  with  their  fear,  who  sworp  they  saw 
Men  all  in  fire,  walk  up  and  down.  tUe  atree<»» 


Soenoa.]  JULIUS  CJESAB.  59 

And  yesterday  the  bird  of  night  did  sit 
Even  at  noon-day  upon  the  market-place, 
Hooting  and  shrieking.     When  these  prodigies 
Do  BO  conjointly  meet,  let  not  men  say, 
*  These  are  their  reasons, — they  are  natural ; ' 
For,  I  believe,  they  are  portentous  things 
Unto  the  climate  that  they  point  upon. 

Cic.  Indeed,  it  is  a  strange-disposed  time : 
But  men  ma}^  construe  things  after  their  fashionj 
Clean  from  the  purpose  of  the  things  themselves. 
Comes  CaBsar  to  the  Capitol  to-morrow  1 

Casca.  He  doth ;  for  he  did  bid  Antonius 
Send  word  to  you,  he  would  be  there  to-morrow. 

Cic.  Good  night  then,  Casca  :  this  disturbed  sky 
Is  not  to  walk  in. 

Casca,  Farewell,  Cicero.     [Exit  Cicero. 

Enter  CASSiua 

Cos.  Who  *8  there  t 

Casca.  A  Roman. 

Ca^.  Casca,  by  your  voico, 

Casca.  Your  ear  is  good.     Cassius,  what  night 

is  this  1 
Co*.   A  very  pleasing  night  to  honest  men. 
Casca.  Who   ever    knew   the   heavens    menace 


60  JUIJITS  CiCSAB.  [AotI 

Cos,  Those  that  haye  known  the  earth  so  full  oi 

faults. 
For  my  part,  I  have  walked  about  the  street* 
Submitting  me  unto  the  perilous  night, 
And,  thus  unbracM,  Casca,  as  you  see, 
Have  bared  my  bosom  to  the  thunder-stone : 
And,  when  the  cross  blue  lightning  seemed  to  open 
The  breast  of  heaven,  I  did  present  myself 
Even  in  the  aim  and  very  flash  of  it. 

Casca.  But  wherefore  did  yon  so  much  tempt 

the  heavens  ] 
It  is  the  part  of  men  to  fear  and  tremble, 
When  the  most  mighty  gods,  by  tokens,  send 
Such  dreadful  heralds  to  astonish  us. 

CorS.  You  are  dull,  Casca;  and  those  sparki  of 

Ufe 
That  should  be  in  a  Eoman,  you  do  want 
Or  else  you  use  not.     You  look  pale,  and  gaze, 
And  put  on  fear,  and,  cast  yourself  in  wonder, 
To  see  the  strange  impatience  of  the  heavens  : 
But  if  you  would  consider  the  true  cause 
Why  all  these  fires,  why  all  these  gliding  ghost-a, 
Why  birds  and  beasts  from  quality  and  kind ; 
Why  old  men  fool,  and  children  calculate ; 
Why  all  these  things  change,  from  their  ordinance, 
Their  natures,  and  performed  faculties. 


3."1  JULIUS   C^SAR.  6S 

To  monstrous  quality, — why,  you  shall  find. 

That  heaven  hath  infused  them  with  these  spirits, 

To  make  them  instruments  of  fear  and  warning 

Unto  some  monstrous  state. — 

Now  could  I,  Casca,  name  to  thee  a  man 

Most  like  this  dreadful  night ; 

That  thunders,  lightens,  opens  graves,  and  roars 

As  doth  the  lion  in  the  Capitol, — 

A  man  no  mightier  than  thyself,  or  me. 

In  personal  action ;  yet  prodigious  grown, 

And  fearful,  as  these  strange  eruptions  are. 

Casca.  'T  is  Caesar  that  you  mean  ;  is  it  not, 
Cassius  1 

Ctis.  Let  it  be  who  it  is :  for  Romans  no^ 
Have  thews  and  limbs  like  to  their  ancestors ; 
But,  woe  the  while  !  our  fatliers'  minds  are  dead, 
And  we  are  governed  with  our  mothers'  spirits ; 
Our  yoke  and  sujfierance  show  us  womanish. 

Casca.  Indeed,  they  say  the  senators  to-morrow 
Mean  to  establish  Csesar  as  a  king ; 
And  he  shall  wear  his  crown  by  sea  and  land, 
In  every  place,  save  here  in  Italy. 

Cas.  I  know   where   I   will    wear   this   dagger 
then ; 
Cassius  from  bondage  will  deliver  Cassius  : 
Therein,  ye  gods,  you  make  the  w^eak  most  strong  j 


6?,  JULIUS    C^SAE.  [ActL 

Therein,  ye  irods.  you  tyrants  do  defeat : 

Kor  stony  tower,  nor  walls  of  beaten  brass, 

Is  or  airless  dungeon,  nor  strong  links  of  iron, 

Can  be  retentive  to  the  strength  of  spirit ; 

But  life,  being  weary  of  these  worldly  bars, 

Never  lacks  power  to  dismiss  itself. 

If  I  know  this,  know  all  the  world  besides, 

Tbat  part  of  tyranny  that  I  do  bear 

I  can  shake  off  at  pleasure.  [Thunder  still, 

Casca.  So  can  I : 

So  every  bondman  in  his  own  hand  bears 
The  power  to  cancel  his  caj^tivity. 

Cas.  And  why  should  Caesar  be  a  tyrant,  then  % 
Poor  man  !  I  know,  he  would  not  be  a  wolf, 
But  that  he  sees  the  Bomans  are  but  sheep ; 
He  were  no  lion,  were  not  Bomans  hinds. 
Those  that  with  haste  will  make  a  mighty  fire. 
Begin  it  with  weak  straws  :  what  ti^ash  is  Rome,, 
What  rubbish,  and  what  ofial,  when  it  serves 
For  the  base  matter  to  illuminate 
So  vile  a  thing  as  C«sar  !     But,  O  grief. 
Where  hast  thou  led  me  1     I,  perhaps,  speak  this 
Before  a  willing  bondman  :  then  I  know 
31y  answer  must  be  made ;  but  I  am  armed. 
And  dangers  are  to  me  indifferent. 

Casca.  You  speak  to  Casca ;  and  to  sucli  a  man 


Scenes.]  JULIUS 


6$ 


That  is  no  fleering  tell-tale.     Hold,  my  band  : 
Be  factious  for  redress  of  all  these  griefs  ', 
And  I  will  set  this  foot  of  mine  as  far 
As  who  goes  farthest. 

Cas.  There 's  a  bargain  madot 

Now  know  you,  Casca,  I  have  moved  already 
Some  certain  of  the  noblest-minded  Romans 
To  undergo  with  me  an  enterprise 
Of  honourable-dangerous  consequence ; 
And  I  do  know,  by  this  they  stay  for  me 
In  Pompey's  porch  :  for  now,  this  fearful  night, 
There  is  no  stir  or  walking  in  the  streets ; 
And  the  complexion  of  the  element 
In  favour 's  like  the  work  we  have  in  hand, 
Most  bloody  fiery,  and  most  teirible. 

Casca.  Stand  close  awhile,  for  here  comes  one  in 
haste. 

Cas.  'T  is  Cinna ;  I  do  know  him  by  his  gait : 
He  is  a  friend. 

Unier  Cinxa. 

Cinna,  where  haste  you  so  ? 
Cin.  To  find   out   you.     Who 's  that  1  Metellua 

Cimber  ? 
Cas.  No,  it  is  Casca  ;  one  incorporate 
To  our  attempts.     Am  I  not  stayed  for,  Cinna  1 


64:  JULIUS    C.ESAE.  TAct  I. 

CifL  I  am  glad  on 't     What  a  tearful  ftight  is 
this  ! 
There  's  two  or  three  of  us  have  seen  strange  sights. 

Cos.  Am  I  not  stayed  for  ]     Tell  me. 

Cin.  Yes,  yon  are. 

O  Oassius,  if  you  could 
But  win  the  noble  Brutus  to  our  party — 

Cos,  Be  you  content :    Good  Cinna,    take   this 
paper, 
And  look  you  lay  it  in  the  praetor's  chair, 
Where  Brutus  may  but  find  it ;  and  throw  thia 
In  at  his  window ;  set  this  up  with  wax 
Upon  old  Brutus'  statue  :  all  this  done, 
Repair  to  Pompey's  porch,  where  you  shall  find  na. 
Is  Decius  Brutus,  and  Trebonius,  there  1 

Cin,  All  but  Metellus  Cimber,  and  he 's  gone 
To  seek  you  at  your  house.     Well,  I  will  hie, 
And  so  bestow  these  papers  as  you  bade  me. 

Cos,  That  done,  repair  to  Pompey's  theatre. 

[Exit  CnfNA. 
Come,  Casca,  you  and  I  will  yet,  ere  day. 
See  Brutus  at  hLs  house  :  three  parts  of  him 
Is  ours  already ;  and  the  man  entire, 
Upon  the  next  encounter,  yields  him  oxuk 

Casca.  O,  he  sits  high  in  all  the  people's  heara  . 
i^jcd  that  which  would  appear  offence  in  ua, 


SoeneS.]  JULIUS   CESAR.  (5fe 

His  countenance,  like  richest  alchymy, 
Will  change  to  virtue  and  to  worthiness. 

Cas.  Him,  and  his  worth,  and  our  great  need  of 
him, 
You  have  right  well  conceited.     Let  us  go, 
For  it  is  after  midnight ;  and,  ere  day, 
We  will  awake  him,  and  be  sure  of  him.    ^Ex6unt. 


ACT  II. 

Scene  I. — Rome.     Brutus's  Orchard. 

Enter  Brutus. 
Bru.  What,  Lucius,  ho  ! — 
I  cannot,  by  the  progress  of  the  stars. 
Give  guess  how  near  to  day. — Lucius,  I  say  !- 
I  would  it  were  my  fault  to  sleep  so  soundly. — 
When,    Lucius,    when !    awake,   I    say !      What, 
Lucius  I 

Enter  Lucius. 

Luc.  Called  you,  my  lord  1 
Bru.  Get  me  a  taper  in  my  study,  Lucius : 
When  it  is  lighted,  come  and  call  me  here, 
c— 73 


66  JITLITJB    CfiSAR.  [Ac*  n. 

Liic  I  will,  my  lord.  [Exit. 

Bru,  It   must    be   by  his  death :  and,   for   my 

part, 
I  know  no  personal  cause  to  spurn  at  him, 
Bnt  for  the  general.     He  would  be  crowned  : — 
IIow    that  might  change  his  nature,  there's  the 

question : 
It  i*  the  bright  day  that  brings  forth  the  adder, 
And   that  craves   wary  walking.     Crown  himt — 

that; 
And  then,  I  grant,  we  put  a  sting  in  him, 
That  at  his  vdM  he  may  do  danger  with. 
The  abuse  of  greatness  is,  when  it  disjoins 
Remorse    from    power :    and,    to    speak    truth   of 

Caesar, 
I  have  not  known  when  his  affections  swayed 
More  than  his  reason.     But  't  is  a  common  proof^ 
That  lowliness  is  young  ambition's  ladder, 
Whereto  the  climber-upward  turns  his  face  ; 
But  when  he  once  attains  the  upmost  round, 
He  then  unto  the  ladder  turns  his  back, 
Looks  in  the  clouds,  scorning  the  base  degiees 
By  which  he  did  ascend.      So  Csesar  may  : 
Then,  lest  he  may,  prevent    And,  since  the  quarrel 
Will  bear  no  colour  for  the  thing  he  is, 
Fa&hion  it  thus :  that  what  he  is.  augrmenteti 


Scene  L]  JULIUS   CMSAR.  67 

Would  run  to  these  and  these  eitremities  : 
And  therefore  think  him  as  a  serpent's  egg, 
Which,    hatched,    would    as   his    kind   gro'w    mLsh 

chievous ; 
And  kill  him  in  the  shelL 

Re-enter  Lucius. 
Luc.  The  taper  barneth  in  your  closet,  sir. 
Searching  the  window  for  a  flint,  I  found 

[Giving  him  a  letter. 
This  papei*,  thus  sealed  up  ;  and,  I  am  sure, 
It  did  not  lie  there  when  I  went  to  bed. 

Bru.   Get  you  to  bed  again;  it  is  not  day. 
Is  not  to-morrow,  boy,  the  ides  of  March  1 
LiLC.  1  know  not,  sir. 

Bru.  Look  in  the  calendar,  and  bring  me  word. 
Luc.  I  will,  sir.  [  h'xit, 

Bru.  The  exlialations  whizzing  in  the  air 
Give  so  much  light  that  I  may  read  by  them. 

[Opens  the  letter,  and  readd, 

*  Brutus,  thou  sleep'st :  awake,  and  see  thyselfl 
Shall  Rome,  (fee. — Speak,  strike,  redress  1  * 

*  Brutus,  thou  sleep'st :  awake  ! ' — 

Such  instigations  have  been  often  dropped 
Where  I  have  took  them  up. 

*  Shall  Rome,  <fec.'     Thus  must  I  piece  it  out : 


68  JUXITJH   CJSSAR.  [Actll 

SuJl  Rome  stand  under  one  man'i  awe  f     Wliats 

Rome! 
My  ancestors  did  from  the  streets  of  Rome 
The  Tarquin  drive,  when  he  was  called  a  king. 
*  Speak,  strike,  redress  1  * — Am  I  entreated 
To  speak,  and  strike  t     O  Rome,  I  make  thee  pro- 
mise, 
If  the  redress  will  follow,  thou  receiVst 
Thj  full  petition  at  the  hand  of  Brutu» ! 

Re-tnter  Lucius, 
iMt,  Sir,  March  is  wasted  fourteen  days. 

\^Knocking  within. 
Bru.  'T  is   good.     Gro    to   the    gate ;    somebody 
knocks.  [Exit  Luciua. 

Since  Cassius  first  did  whet  me  against  Caesar, 
I  have  not  slept. 

Between  the  acting  of  a  dreadful  thing 
And  the  first  motion,  all  the  interim  is 
Like  a  phantasma  or  a  hideous  dream  : 
The  genius  and  the  mortal  instruments 
Are  then  in  council ;  and  the  state  of  a  maHi 
Like  to  a  little  kingdom,  suffers  then 
The  nature  of  an  insurrection. 

Be-€nier  Lucius. 
Xmc  Sir.  ^t  is  your  brother  Cassius  at  the  door. 


Scene  1.]  JTTLIFS   C^SAB.  69 

Who  doth  desire  to  see  you. 

Bru.  Is  he  alone? 

Luc.  No,  sir,  there  are  more  with  him. 

Bru.  Do  you  know  them  % 

Luc.  No,  sir ;  their  hats  are  plucked  about  their 
ears, 
And  half  their  faces  buried  in  their  cloaks, 
That  by  no  means  I  may  discover  them 
By  any  mark  of  favour, 

Bru,  Let  'em  enter.     \^Exit  LuciUS. 

They  are  the  faction.     O  conspiracy, 
Sham'st  thou  to  show  thy  dangerous  brow  by  night, 
When  evils  are  most  free  1     O,  then,  by  day 
Where  wilt  thou  find  a  cavern  dark  enough 
To  mask  thy  monstrous  visage  ]     Seek  none,  «oii- 

spiracy ; 
Hide  it  in  smiles  and  affability  : 
For  if  thou  put  thy  native  semblance  on. 
Not  Erebus  itself  were  dim  enough 
To  hide  thee  from  prevention. 

Enter  Cassius,  Casca,  Decius,  Cinna,  Metellus 
CiMBER,  and  Trebonius. 

Cas.  I  think  we  are  too  bold  upon  your  rest : 
Good  morrow,  Brutus  ;  do  we  trouble  you  ] 

Bru.  I  have  been  up  this  hour  ;  awake  all  night 


70  JULIUS    C^SAB.  [Actn 

Know  I  these  men  that  come  along  with  yon  ? 

Cos.   Yes,  every  man  of  them ;  and  no  man  here 
But  honours  you  :  and  every  one  doth  wish 
You  had  but  that  opinion  of  yourself 
Which  every  noble  Roman  bears  of  you. 
This  is  Trebonius. 

Bru.  He  is  welcome  hither. 

Cos.  This,  Decius  Brutus. 

Bru.  He  is  welcome  too. 

Cos.  This,  Casca ;  this,  Cinna ;  and  this,  Metel- 
lus  Cimber. 

Bru.  They  are  all  welcome. 
What  watchful  cares  do  interpose  themselves 
Betwixt  your  eyes  and  night  1 

Cos.  Shall  I  entreat  a  word  1 

[Brutus  and  Cassius  confer  apart, 

Dec,  Here  lies  the  east :  doth  not  the  day  break 
herel 

Catca.  No. 

Cin.  0,  pardon,  sir,  it  doth  ;  and  yon  grey  lines 
That  fret  the  clouds  are  messengers  of  day. 

Casca.    You    shall    confess   that   you    are   both 
deceived. 
Here,  as  I  point  my  sword,  the  sun  arises  ; 
Which  is  a  great  way  growing  on  the  south. 
Weighing  the  youtljful  season  of  the  year 


S.-eneLJ  JULIUS    C^SAS.  71 

Some  two  months  hence,   up  higher   toward   the 

north 
He  first  presents  his  fire  :  and  the  high  east 
Stands,  as  the  Capitol,  directly  here. 

Bru.   Give  me  your  hands  all  over,  one  by  one. 

Cas.  And  let  us  swear  our  resolution. 

Bru.  No,  not  an  oath  :  if  not  tbe  face  of  men, 
The  sufferance  of  our  souls,  the  time's  abuse, — 
If  these  be  motives  weak,  break  off  betimes, 
And  every  man  hence  to  his  idle  bed ; 
So  let  high-sighted  tyranny  range  on, 
Till  each  man  drop  by  lottery.     But  if  these, 
As  I  am  sure  they  do,  bear  tire  enough 
To  kindle  cowards,  and  to  steel  v/ith  valour 
The  melting  spirits  of  women,  then,  countrymen, 
What  need  we  any  spur  but  our  own  cause 
To  prick  us  to  redress  ]  what  other  bond 
Than  secret  Romans,  that  have  spoke  the  word 
And  will  not  palter  1  and  what  other  oath 
Than  honesty  to  honesty  engaged. 
That  this  shall  be,  or  we  will  fall  for  it  ? 
Swear  priests,  and  cowards,  and  men  cautelous, 
Old  feeble  carrions,  and  such  suflering  souls 
That  welcome  wrongs  ;  unto  bad  causes  swear 
Such  creatures  as  men  doubt :  but  do  not  stain 
The  even  virtue  of  our  ^nterDrise, 


72  JTTLIFS    CJE8AR.  [Aotll. 

Nor  the  insuppressive  mettle  of  our  spirit*, 

To  think  that  or  our  cause  or  our  performanoo 

Did  need  an  oath  ;  when  every  drop  of  blood 

That  every  Roman  bears,  and  nobly  bears, 

Is  guilty  of  a  several  bastardy 

If  he  do  break  the  smallest  particle 

Of  any  promise  that  hath  passed  from  him. 

Cas.  But  what  of  Cicero  1     Shall  we  sound  him  t 
I  think  he  will  stand  very  strong  with  us. 

Cased.  Let  ns  not  leave  him  out 

Cin.  No,  by  no  means. 

Met.   O,  let  us  have  him  :  for  his  silver  hairs 
Will  purchase  us  a  good  opinion, 
And  buy  men's  voices  to  commend  onr  deeds  : 
It  shall  be  said,  his  judgment  ruled  our  hands; 
Our  youths  and  -^nldness  shall  no  whit  appear, 
But  all  be  buried  lq  his  gravity. 

Br%u   0,  name  him  not ;  let  ug  not  break  with 
him, 
For  he  will  never  follow  anything 
That  other  men  begin. 

Cos.  Then  leave  him  out 

Caaca.  Indeed,  he  is  not  fit 

Dec.  Shall    no   man   else  be  touched,  but    only 
Caesar? 

Cat,  Decius,  well  urged. — J  think  it  is  not  meet 


Scene!.]  JUlilUS  C^fiAU.  73 

Mark  Antony,  bo  well  beloved  of  C«esar, 
'Should  outlive  Caesar  :  we  shall  find  of  him 
A  shrewd  contriver ;  and,  you  know,  his  meejas, 
If  he  improve  them,  may  well  atretch  so  far 
As  to  annoy  us  all :  which  to  prevent. 
Let  Antony  and  Caesar  fall  together. 

Bru.  Our   course  will    seem  too  bloody,    Oaiui 
Cassius, 
To  cut  the  head  off,  and  then  hack  the  limbs, 
Like  wrath  in  death,  and  envy  afterwards ; 
For  Antony  is  but  a  limb  of  Caesar  : 
Let  us  be  sacrificers,  but  not  butchers,  Caius. 
We  all  stand  up  against  the  spirit  of  Cajsar ; 
And  in  the  spirit  of  men  there  is  no  blood  : 
O,  that  we  then  could  come  by  Caesar's  spirit, 
And  not  dismember  Caesar  !     But,  alas, 
Caesar  must  bleed  for  it.     And,  gentle  frienda. 
Let 's  kill  him  boldly,  but  not  wrathfully  ; 
Let's  carve  him  as  a  dish  fit  for  the  gods, 
Not  hew  him  as  a  carcass  fit  for  hounds : 
And.  let  our  hearts,  as  subtle  masters  do, 
Stir  up  their  servants  to  an  act  of  rage. 
And  after  seem  to  chide  'em.     This  shall  make 
Our  purpose  necessary,  and  not  envious  ; 
Which  so  appearing  to  the  common  eyes. 
We  shall  be  called  purgers,  not  murdererai 


74  JULIUS    CfflSAB.  CActH. 

And  for  Mark  Antony,  think  not  of  him  ; 
For  he  can  do  no  more  than  Caesar's  arm 
When  Caisar's  head  ia  off. 

Ca8.  Yet  I  fear  him  ! 

For  in  the  ingrafted  love  he  bears  to  Caesar — 

Bru.  Alas,  good  Cassius,  do  not  think  of  him. 
If  he  love  Caesar,  all  that  he  can  do 
Is  to  himself, — take  thought,  and  die  for  Ca?sar  \ 
And  that  were  much  he  should  ;  for  he  is  given 
To  8jx)rts,  to  wildness,  and  much  company. 

Treb.  There  is  no  fear  in  him  ;  let  him  not  die  ; 
For  he  will  live,  and  laugh  at  this  heieatter. 

\Clock  gtrikes. 

Bru.  Peace  I  count  the  clock. 

^cw.  The  clock  hath  stricken  three. 

Treb.  'T  is  time  to  part. 

Cos.  But  it  is  doubtful  yet^ 

Whether  Caesar  will  come  forth  to-day,  or  no ; 
For  he  is  superstitious  grown  of  late, 
Quite  from  the  main  opinion  he  held  once 
Of  fantasy,  of  dreams,  and  ceremonies  : 
It  may  be,  these  apparent  prodigies. 
The  unaccustomed  terror  of  this  night, 
And  the  persuasion  of  his  augurers, 
May  hold  him  from  the  Capitol  to-day. 

Dec.  Never  fear  that :  if  he  be  so  resolvec^ 


Soene  JUJ  JlTLIirs   CMSAU,  78' 

I  can  o'c/Tsway  him ;  for  he  loves  to  hear 
That  unicorns  may  be  betrayed  with  trees, 
And  bears  with  glasses,  elephants  with  holeia^ 
Lions,  with  toils,  and  men  with  flatterers : 
But,  when  I  tell  him,  he  hates  flatterers, 
He  says,  he  does,  being  then  most  flattered. 
Lrdt  me  work; 

For  I  can  give  his  humour  the  true  bent, 
And  I  will  bring  him  to  the  Capitol. 

Cos.  Nay,  we  will  all  of  us  be  there  to  fetch 
him. 

£ru.   By  the  eighth  hour :  is  that  the  uttermost  1 

Cin.  Be  that  the  uttermost^  and  fail  not  then. 

Met.  Caius  Ligarius  doth  bear  Cassar  hard. 
Who  rated  him  for  speaking  well  of  Pompey  : 
I  wonder,  none  of  you  have  thought  of  him. 

Brtt.  Now,  good  Metellus,  go  along  by  him  : 
He  loves  me  well,  and  I  have  given  him  reasons ; 
Send  him  but  hither,  and  I  '11  fashion  him. 

Cos,  The   morning   comes  upon  's :    we  '11  leave 
you,  Brutus : — 
And,    friends,     disperse   yourselves  j     but   all    re- 
member 
What   you    have  said,  and  show  yourselves  true 
Romans. 

Brn.  Good  gentlemen,  look  fresh  and  merrily; 


76  JULIUS   C^SAR.  [ActH 

Let  not  our  looks  put  on  our  purpose! ; 
But  bear  it  as  our  Roman  actors  do, 
With  untired  spirits  and  formal  constancy : 
And  so,  good  morrow  to  you  every  one. 

[Exeunt  all  but  Bbutu& 
Boy  !  Lucius  ! — fast  asleep.     It  is  no  matter ; 
Enjoy  the  heavy  honey -de-w  of  slumber  : 
Thou  hast  no  figures  nor  no  fantasies 
Which  busy  care  draws  in  the  brains  of  men ; 
Therefore,  thou  sleep'st  so  sound. 

Enter  Portia. 

Por.  ,  Brutus,  my  lord  ! 

Bru.  Portia,  what  mean  you  1     Wherefore  rise 
you  now  1 
It  is  not  for  your  health  thus  to  commit 
Your  weak  condition  to  the  raw-cold  morning. 

For,  Nor  for  yours  neither.     You  've  ungently, 
Brutus, 
Stole  from  my  bed  :  and  yesternight,  at  supper, 
You  suddenly  arose,  and  walked  about, 
Musing  and  sighing,  with  your  arms  across ; 
And  when  I  asked  you  what  the  mattei  was, 
You  stared  upon  me  with  ungentle  looks  : 
I  urged  you  further ;  then  you  scratched  your  head, 
And  too  impatiently  stamped  with  your  foot ; 


Soenol.]  JTJMUS   CffiJSAB.  77 

Yet  I  inflated,  yet  you  answered  not, 
Bat,  vith  an  angry  wafture  of  your  hand, 
Gave  sign  for  me  to  leave  you.     So  I  did, 
Fearing  to  strengthen  that  impatience 
Which  seemed  too  much  enkind)ed ;  and  withal 
Hoping  it  was  but  an  effect  of  humour. 
Which  sometime  hath  his  hour  ivith  every  man. 
£t  will  not  let  you  eat,  nor  talk,  nor  sleep ; 
And  could  it  work  so  much  upon  your  shape 
As  it  hath  much  prevailed  on  your  condition 
I  should  not  know  you,  Brutus.     Dear  my  lord. 
Make  me  acquainted  with  your  cause  of  grief. 

Bru,  I  am  not  well  in  health,  and  that  is  alh 

Por.  Brutus  is  wise,  and  were  he  not  in  health 
He  would  embrace  the  means  to  come  by  it. 

Bru.  Why,  so  I  do. — Good  Portia,  go  to  bed. 

Por.  Is  Brutus  sick,  and  is  it  physical 
To  walk  unbraced,  and  suck  up  the  humours 
Of  the  dank  morning  J     What,  is  Brutus  sick, 
And  will  he  steal  out  of  his  wholesome  bod 
To  dare  the  vile  contagion  of  the  night, 
And  tempt  the  rheumy  and  unpurg^d  air 
To  add  unto  his  sickness  1     No,  my  Brutus ; 
You  have  some  sick  offence  within  your  mind» 
Which,  by  the  right  and  virtue  of  my  place, 
I  ought  to  knoir  of  :  And  upon  my  knees 


78  JULIUS  CiESAJi.  [Act  n. 

I  charm  you,  by  my  once  commended  beauty, 
By  all  your  vcws  of  love,  and  that  great  vow 
Which  did  incorporate  and  make  us  one, 
Tliat  you  unfold  to  me,  your  self,  your  half, 
Why  you  are  heavy  ;  and  what  men  to-night 
Have  had  resort  to  you, — for  here  have  been 
Some  six  or  seven,  who  did  hide  their  faces 
Even  from  darkness. 

Bru.  Kneel  not,  gentle  Portia. 

For.   I    should    not   need,    if   you    were    geritle 
Brutus. 
Within  the  bond  of  marriage,  tell  me,  Brutua^ 
Is  it  excepted  I  should  know  no  secrets 
That  appertain  to  you  ?     Am  I  yourself 
But,  as  it  were,  in  sort  or  limitation ; 
To  keep  with  you  at  meals,  comfort  your  bed, 
And  talk  to  you  sometimes  ]     Dwell  I  but  in  the 

suburbs 
Of  your  good  pleasure  %     If  it  be  no  more, 
Portia  is  Brutus'  harlot,  not  his  wife. 

Bru.   You  are  my  true  and  honourable  wife  ; 
As  dear  to  me  as  are  the  ruddy  drops 
That  visit  my  sad  heart. 

Pot.  If  this  were  true,  then  should  I  know  this 
secret. 
I  grant,  I  am  a  woman ;  but  withml 


Scene  1.1  JULIUS   C^SAE.  79 

A  woman  that  Lord  Brutus  took  to  wife : 

J  grant,  I  am  woman  ;  but  withal 

A.  woman  well  re])uted, — Cato's  daughter. 

Think  you  I  am  no  stronger  than  ray  sex, 

Being  so  fathered,  and  so  husbanded  ] 

Tell  me  your  counsels ;  I  will  not  disclose  them. 

I  have  made  strong  proof  of  my  constancy, 

Giving  myself  a  voluntary  wound 

Here,  in  the  thigh  :  can  I  bear  that  with  patience, 

And  not  my  husband's  secrets'? 

Brw.  0  ye  gods, 

Render  me  worthy  of  this  noble  wife  ! 

[Knocking  withvn. 
Hark,  hark  !  one  knocks  :  Portia,  go  in  awhile ; 
And  by-and-by  thy  bosom  shall  partake 
The  secrets  of  my  heart : 
All  my  engagements  I  will  construe  to  thee, 
All  the  chai'^ctery  of  my  sad  brows : — 
Leave  me  with  haste.  [Exit  Portia, 

Enter  Lucius  and  Ligarius. 

Lucius,  who  's  that  knocks  ? 
Luc.  Here  is  a  sick  man  that  would  speak  with 

you. 
Bru.   Caius  Ligarius,  that  Metellus  spake  of.— 
Bov.  stand  aside. — Caius  Li^jarius. — how  % 


80  JULIUS    CASA.R.  [Act  EL 

Lig.  Vouchsafe    good    morrow    from    »    feeble 
tongue. 

Bru,  O,  what  a  time  have  you  chose  out,  braT* 
Caius, 
To  wear  a  kerchief !     "Would  you  were  not  sick  I 

Lig.   I  am  not  sick,  if  Brutus  have  in  hand 
Any  exploit  worthy  the  name  of  honour. 

Bru.  Such  an  exploit  have  I  in  hand,  Ligarius, 
Had  you  a  healthful  ear  to  hear  of  it. 

Lig.  By  all  the  gods  that  Romans  bow  before, 

1  here  discard  my  sickness  !     Soul  of  Kome*l 
Brave  son,  derived  from  honourable  loins  J 
Thou,  like  an  exorcist,  hast  conjured  up 

My  mortified  spirit     Now  bid  me  run, 
And  I  will  strive  with  things  impossible  ; 
Yea,  get  tl.e  better  of  them.     What 's  to  do  t 
Brtk,  A  piece  of  work  that  will  make  sick  men 

whole. 
Lig.   But  are  not  some  whole  that  we  must  miiiice 

sick '/ 
Bru.  That    must    we    also.      What   it   u^    my 
Caius, 

2  shall  unfold  to  thee,  as  we  are  going 
To  whom  it  must  be  done. 

Lig.  Set  on  your  foot  j 

Aad  with  a  heart  new-fired  I  follow  you 


Scene  L]  JULIUS   CJSSAB.  81 

To  do  I  know  not  what :  but  it  snfficeth 
That  Brutus  leads  mo  on. 

Br%L  Follow  me,  then.  .  [^ExeunL 


Scene  II. — Rome.     A  Room  in  Cesar's  Palace. 

Thwnder  and  lightning.      Enter  C^sar,  in  his 
night-govm, 
C(Ba.  Nor  heaven  nor  earth  have  been  at  peace 
to-night : 
Thrice  hath  Calphumia  in  her  sleep  cried  out, 
•  Help,  ho  1     They  murder  Caesar  I  * — Who's  within  1 

Enter  a  Servant. 
S&rv.  My  lord. 

Cce^.  Go  bid  the  priests  do  present  sacrifice, 
And  bring  me  their  opinions  of  success. 

Serv.  I  will,  my  lord.  [ExU. 

Enter  Oalphurnia- 
CiU.  What  mean  you,  Ccesar  ?  think  you  to  walk 
forth  1 
S^ou  shall  not  stir  out  of  your  house  to-day. 

(7«Bt.  Caesar  shall  forth  :  the  things  that  thread' 
@aed  me 


32  JULIUS    CM8AIL.  [ Aot  O. 

Ne'er  looked  but  on  my  back  ;  when  they  shall  see 
The  face  of  Caesar,  they  are  vanish^. 

Cal   Caesar,  I  never  stood  on  ceremonies, 
Yet  now  they  fright  me.     There  is  one  within, 
Besides  the  things  tliat  we  have  heard  and  seen, 
Recounts  most  horrid  sights  seen  by  the  watch. 
A  lioness  hath  whelped  in  the  streets ; 
And  graves  have  yawned,   and  yielded   up  their 

dead  ; 
Fierce  fiery  warriors  fight  upon  the  clouds, 
In  ranks  and  squadrons  and  right  form  of  war 
Wiiigh  drizzled  blood  upon  the  Capitol ; 
The  noise  of  battle  hurtled  in  the  air, 
Horses  did  neigh,  and  dying  men  did  groan. 
And   ghosts   did    shriek    and    squeal    about    the 

streets. 
0  Csesar,  these  things  are  beyond  all  use, 
And  I  do  fear  them ! 

Cces.  What  can  be  avoided 

Whose  end  is  purposed  by  the  mighty  gods  1 
Yet  Caesar  shall  go  forth ;  for  these  predictiona 
Are  to  the  world  in  general  as  to  Caesar. 

CaL  When   beggars   die   there   are   no   oomete 

seen; 
Tlie  heavens  themselves  blaze  forth  the  death   of 

princes. 


^ceneE.]  JULIUS   CJSSAR.  83 

C(E§.  Cowards    die    many    times    before    theii^ 

deaths  ; 
The  valiant  never  taste  of  death  but  once. 
Of  all  the  wonders  that  I  yet  have  heard, 
It  seems  to  me  most  strange  that  men  should  fear ; 
Seeing  that  death,  a  necessary  end. 
Will  come  when  it  will  coma 

Re-enter  Servant. 

What  say  the  augurers  t 

Serv.  They  would  not  have  you  to  stir  forth  to- 
day. 
Plucking  the  entrails  of  an  oflfering  forth. 
They  could  not  find  a  heart  within  the  beast. 
.     C(B8.  The  gods  do  this  in  shame  of  cowardice  : 
Oaesar  should  be  a  beast  without  a  heart 
If  he  should  stay  at  home  to-day  for  fear. 
No,  Csesar  shall  not :  danger  knows  full  well 
That  Caesar  is  more  dangerous  than  he. 
We  are  two  lions  littered  in  one  day, 
And  I  the  elder  and  more  terrible  : — 
And  Caesar  shall  go  forth. 

Col.  Alas,  my  lord. 

Your  wisdom  is  consumed  in  confidence. 
Do  not  go  forth  to-day  :  call  it  my  fear 
That  keeps  you  in  the  house,  and  not  yoar  ow^^ 


84  JULIUS   C^SAS,.  CActn 

We  11  send  Mark  Antony  to  the  senate-houMi, 

And  he  shall  say  you  are  not  well  to-day : 
Let  me,  upon  my  knee,  prevail  in  this. 

Ccps.   Mark  Antony  shall  say  I  am  not  well , 
And,  for  thy  humour,  I  will  stay  at  homa 

Enter  Decius. 
Here  'b  Decius  Brutus,  he  shall  tell  them  sa 

Dec,    Cssar,    all    hail  !    Good    morrow,   worthy 
Caesar: 
I  come  to  fetch  you  to  the  senate-house. 

Cces.  And  you  are  come  in  very  happy  time^ 
To  bear  my  greeting  to  the  senators, 
And  tell  them  that  I  will  not  come  to-day  : 
Cannot,  is  false ;  and  that  I  dare  not,  falser } 
I  will  not  come  to-day, — tell  them  so,  Deciua. 

Cat.  Say,  he  is  sick. 

Cces.  Shall  Caesar  send  a  lie  1 

Have  I  in  conquest  stretched  mine  arm  so  fw, 
To  be  afeard  to  tell  grey-beiirds  the  truth  1 
Decius,  go  tell  them,  Caesar  will  not  com*?. 

Dec.  Most  mighty   Ca3sar,  let    me   know    some 
cause, 
Lest  I  be  laughed  at  when  I  tell  them  eo, 

Cces.  The  cause  is  in  my  ^\^1, — I  will  not 
That  is  eiiough  to  satisfy  the  senile. 


i 


9oeGBe2.]  JULIUS    CfflSAB.  85 

Bot,  for  your  private  satisfaction. 

Because  I  love  you,  I  will  let  yon  know, — 

Oalphurnia  hera,  my  wife,  stays  me  at  home : 

She  dreamed  to-night  she  saw  my  statua, 

Which,  like  a  fountain  with  a  hundred  spouts, 

Did  run  pure  blood  ;  and  many  lusty  Romans 

Came  smiling,  and  did  bathe  their  hands  in  it. 

And  these 

Does  she  apply  for  warnings  and  portents 

Of  evils  imminent ;  and  on  her  knee 

Hath  begged  that  I  will  stay  at  home  to-day. 

Dec.  This  dream  is  aJl  amiss  interpreted  : 
It  was  a  vision  fair  and  fortunate. 
Your  statue  spouting  blood  in  many  pipes, 
In  which  so  many  smiling  Romans  bathed, 
Signifies  that  from  you  great  Rome  shall  suck 
Reviving  blood  ;  and  that  great  men  shall  press 
For  tinctures,  stains,  relics,  and  cognisance  : 
This  by  Calphumia's  dream  is  signified. 

CcR8.  And  this  way  have  you  weU  exfK)unded  it 
Dec.  I  have,  when  you  have  heard  what  I  caD 
say: 
And  know  it  now.     The  senate  have  concluded 
To  give,  this  day,  a'  crown  to  mighty  CaBsar. 
If  you  shall  send  them  word,  you  will  not  com®, 
Their  minds  may  changa     Besides,  it  were  a  moc§ 


86  JULIUS    C.SSAB.  [Aotn, 

Apt  to  be  rendered,  for  some  one  to  say, 

*  Break  up  the  senate  till  another  time, 

When  Csesar's  wife  sliall  meet  with  better  dreams.' 

If  Cassar  hide  himself,  shall  they  not  wliisj»er, 

'  Lo,  Cnesar  is  afraid  '  1 

Pardon  me,  Caesar ;  for  my  dear,  dear  love 

To  your  proceeding  bids  me  tell  you  this, 

And  reason  to  my  love  is  liable. 

CcP8,  How  foolish  do  your  fears  seem  now,  Cal- 
phumia  ! 
I  am  ashamed  I  did  yield  to  them, — 
Gire  me  my  robe,  for  I  will  go : — 


Enter  Publius,  Brutus,  Ligarius,  Metkllub,' 
Casca,  Treboxius,  and  Cinna. 

And  look  where  Publius  is  come  to  fetch  me. 

Pub.  Good  morrow,  Caesar. 

CcM.  Welcome,  PubUus.— • 

What,  Brutus,  are  you  stirred  so  early  too  I — 
Good  morrow,  Casca. — Caius  Ligarius, 
Cffisar  was  ne'er  so  much  your  enemy 
As  that  same  ague  which  hath  made  you  ieaiL — 
What  is 't  o'clock  1 

Bra.  Csesar,  't  is  ytrucken  eight. 

CcR8.   I  thank  you  for  your  pains  and  qourtety. 


Scene  2.]  JULIUS   CiESAE.  87 

Enter  Antony. 
See  !  Antony,  that  revels  long  o*  nights, 
Is  notwithstanding  up. — Good  morrow,  Antony. 
Ant.   So  to  most  noble  Csesar. 
C(Bs.  Bid  them  prepare  within  r 

I  am  to  blame  to  be  thus  waited  for. — 
Now,  Cinna  : — now,  Metellus  : — what,  Trebonius  1 
I  have  an  hour's  talk  in  store  for  you  ; 
Remember  that  you  call  on  me  to-day  : 
Be  near  me,  that  I  may  rememVjer  you. 

Treh.  Csesar,  I  will  : — [aside]  and  so  near  will  I 
be, 
That   your    best    friends   shall    wish    I    had    been 
further. 
Cces.  Good  friends,  go  in,  and  taste  some  wine 
with  me ; 
And   we,    like    friends,    will    straightway   go    to- 
gether. 
Bru.  [Aside.]  That  every  like  is  not  the  same, 
O  Csesar, 
The  heart  of  Brutus  yearns  to  think  upon  ! 

^£xeunt. 


88  JTI1.IU8   CAMAB.  lActU, 

8cs2fs  nX — Boma     A  Street  near  the  Capital 

jErUer  Abteiudorus,  reading  a  paper. 

Art  *  Csesar,  beware  of  BrutuB;  take  heed  of 
Cassiua;  oome  not  near  Casca;  have  an  eye  to 
Cinna ;  trust  not  Trebonius ;  mark  well  Metellua 
Cimber ;  Decius  Bnitna  loves  thee  not ;  thou  hast 
wronged  Caius  Ligariua.  There  is  but  one  mind 
in  all  these  men,  and  it  is  bent  against  Csesar.  If 
thou  be'st  not  immortal,  look  about  jou  :  security 
gives  way  to  conspiracy.  The  mighty  gods  defend 
thee  I     Thy  lover,  Artemidosd*.' 

Here  will  I  stand  till  CaBsar  pass  along, 
And  as  a  suitor  will  I  give  him  thiai 
My  heart  laments  that  \'irtue  cannot  live 
Out  of  the  teeth  of  emulatioiu 
If  thou  read  this,  0  Caes^if,  thou  may'st  live  : 
If  not^  the  Fates  with  traitors  do  contrive.     [Exit 


Scene   IV. — Rome.     Another   Part  of  the   sam^ 
Street,  before  the  House  of  Brutus. 

JSnter  Portia  and  Lucius. 
Por.  I  pr'ythee,  boy,  run  to  the  senate- house ; 
Stay  not  to  answer  me.  but  get  thee  gone : 


Scene  4k]  JI7I.IUS  OSSAR.  89 

Why  doflt  thou  stay ! 

Luc.  To  know  my  errand,  madanL 

Pot.  I  ^ould  have  had  the«  there,  and  here  again, 

Ere  I  can  tell  thee  what  thou  shouldst  do  there, — 

0  constancy,  be  strong  upon  my  side, 

Set  a  huge  mountain  'tween  my  heart  and  tongue ! 

1  have  a  man's  mind,  but  a  woman's  might. 
How  hard  it  is  for  women  to  keep  counsel ! — 
Art  thou  here  yet  % 

Luc  Madam,  what  should  I  dof 

Run  to  the  Capitol,  and  nothing  else  % 
And  BO  return  to  you,  and  nothing  else  1 

For.  Yes,  bring  me  word,  boy,  if  thy  lord  look 
well, 
For  he  went  sickly  forth  :  and  take  good  note, 
What  Caesar  doth,  what  suitors  press  to  him. 
Hark,  boy  !  what  noise  is  that  ? 

Lua.  I  hear  none,  madam. 

For.  Pr'ythee,  listen  weU  ; 

I  heard  a  bustling  rumour,  like  a  fray, 
And  the  wind  brings  it  from  the  Capitol. 

Luc.  Sooth,  madam,  I  hear  nothing. 

EtU&t  the  Soothsayer. 
iW.  Oome  hither,  fellow :  which  way  hast  thoo 
been) 


90  JULIUS   CiESAR.  [Act  II. 

Sooth.  At  mine  own  house,  good  ladj. 

Pot.  What  ifl 't  o'clock  1 

Sooth.  About  the  ninth  hour,  letdy. 

Por.  Is  Caesar  yet  gone  to  the  Capitol  t 

Sooth.  Madam,  not  yet :  I  go  to  take  my  stand, 
To  see  him  pass  on  to  the  CapitoL 

Por.  Thou  hast  some   suit  to  Caesar,  hast  thou 
noti 

Sooth.  That  I  have,  lady  :  if  it  will  please  Caesar 
To  be  so  good  to  Csesar  as  to  hear  me, 
I  shall  beseech  him  to  befriend  himself. 

Por.  Why,  know'st  thou  any  harm's  intended 
towards  him  1 

Sooth.  None  that   I   know  will  be,  much  that  1 
fear  may  chance. 
Good  morrow  to  you.     Here  the  street  is  narrow  : 
The  throng  that  follows  Caesar  at  the  heels, 
Of  senators,  of  praetors,  common  suitors, 
Will  crowd  a  feeble  man  almost  to  dearh  : 
1 11  get  me  to  a  place  more  void,  and  there 
Speak  to  great  Cajsar  as  he  comes  along.  [Font 

Por.  I  must  go  in. — Ah  me,  how  weak  a  thing 
The  heart  of  woman  is  1     O  Brutus, 
The  heavens  speed  thee  in  thine  enterprise  1 — 
Sure,  the  boy  heard  me. — Brutus  hath  a  suit, 
That  Caesar  will  not  grant. — O,  I  grow  faint. — 


Scene  4.1  JULTUS  CMSAS..  91 

Run,  Lucius,  and  commend  me  to  my  lord ; 

Say,  I  am  merry  :  come  to  me  again, 

And  bring  me  word  what  he  doth  say  to  thee. 

[Exev/rU  severally* 


ACT   III. 

Scene  L — Rome.     The  Capitol ;  the  Senate 

sitting. 

A  crowd  of  People  in  the  street  leading  to  the 
Capitol;  among  them  Artemidorus  and  the 
Soothsayer.  Flourish.  Enter  C^sar,  Brutus, 
Cassius,  Casca,  Decius,  Metellus,  Tre- 
BONius,  CiNNA,  Antony,  Lepidus,  Popilius, 
PuBLlus,  and  others. 

Ccbs.  The  ides  of  March  are  come. 

Sooth.  Ay,  Caesar ;  but  not  gona 

Art.  Hail,  Csesar  1     Read  this  schedule. 

Dec.  Trebonius  doth  desire  you  to  o'erread, 
At  your  best  leisure,  this  his  huml^le  suit. 

Art.  O  Ca3sar,  read  mme  first ;  for  mine  's  a  suit 
That  touches  Csesar  nearer.      Read  it,  great  Csesar. 

Cces.   What   touches   us   oursclf    shall    be   last 
sei-ved. 


92  JTrLrus  cjesas.  CActm 

Art,  Delay  not,  Caesar  ;  read  it  infltantly. 
C<B9,  What,  ifi  the  fellow  mad  1 
Pub.  Sirrah,  give  place. 

Ccu.  What,    urge   yon    your   petitionfl    in    the 
street  1 
Gome  to  the  CapitoL 

CiESAB  enters  the  Capitol,  the  rest  following. 
All  tlie  Senators  rise. 
Pop.  I  wish  your  enterprise  to-day  may  thrive. 
Ca$.  What  enterprise,  Popilius  f 
Pop.  Fare  you  well 

[Advances  to  Cesab. 
Bnu  What  said  Popilius  Lena  1 
Cos.  He   wished   to-day    our   enterprise    might 
thrive. 
I  fear,  our  purpose  is  discover^d, 

Bru.  Look,    how    he    makes    to    Caesar :    mark 

him. 
Cos.  Casca,  be  sudden,  for  we  fear  prevention. — 
Brutus,  what  shall  be  done  ]     If  this  be  known, 
Oassius  or  Caesar  never  shall  turn  back, 
For  I  will  slay  myself. 

Bru.  Cassius,  be  constant : 

Popilius  Lena  speaks  not  of  our  purpose  : 
For,  look,  he  smiles,  and  Cvesfir  doth  not  change. 


Scene  L]  JUMTJS   CMBAB..  98 

Com.  Trebonius  knows  his  time ;  iotf  look  yon, 

Brutus, 
He  draws  Mark  Antony  ont  of  the  way. 

[Uxeunt  Antony  and  Trebonius.     O^aAR 

and  the  Senators  take  tlteir  seats* 

Dec  Where    is    Metellus    Cimber?      Let   him 

go. 
And  presently  prefer  his  suit  to  Caesar. 

Bru,  He   is  addressed  :  press  near,  and  second 
him. 

Citi.  Casca,  you   are  the  first  that  rears  your 
hand. 

Casca.  Are  we  all  ready  t 

C(BS.  What  is  now  amiss, 

That  Caesar  and  his  senate  must  redress  ? 

Met  Most   high,  most  mighty,  and  most  puis- 
sant Caesar, 
Metellus  Cimber  throws  before  thy  seat 
A-ii  humble  heart, —  [Kneeling. 

Goes.  I  must  prevent  thee,  Cimber. 

These  couchings,  and  these  lowly  courtesies, 
Might  fire  the  blood  of  ordinary  men, 
And  turn  pre-ordinance  and  first  decree 
Into  the  law  of  children.     Be  not  fond, 
To  think  that  Csesar  bears  such  rebel  blood 
That  will  be  thawed  from  the  true  quality 


94  J-DXITJS   C^SAR.  [ActriL 

With   that   which   melteth    fools;  I   mean   sweet 

words, 
Low-crooked  curt'sies,  and  base  spaniel  fawning. 
Thy  brother  by  decree  is  banished  : 
If  thou  dost  bend,  and  pray,  and  fawn  for  him, 
I  spurn  thee  like  a  cur  out  of  my  way. 
Know,  Cresar  doth  not  wrong  ;  nor  without  cause 
Will  he  be  satisfied. 

Met.  Is  there  no  voice  more  worthy  than  my 
own, 
To  sound  more  sweetly  in  great  Caesar's  ear 
For  the  repealing  of  my  banished  brother  ? 

Bru.  I  kiss  thy  hand,  but  not  in  flattery,  Csesar; 
Desiring  thee  that  Publius  Cimber  may 
Have  an  immediate  freedom  of  repeal. 

Goes.  What,  Brutus ! 

Cas.  Pardon,  Caesar  ;  Caesar,  pardon  ; 

As  low  as  to  thy  foot  doth  Cassius  fall. 
To  beg  enfranchisement  for  Publius  Cimber. 

CcEs.  I  could  be  well  moved,  if  I  were  as  you  ; 
If  I  could  pray  to  move,  prayers  would  move  me  : 
But  I  am  constant  as  the  northern  star, 
Of  whose  true-fixed  and  resting  quality 
There  is  no  fellow  in  the  firmament. 
The  skies  are  painted  with  unnumbered  Si)ark3, 
They  are  all  fire,  and  every  one  doth  shine  j 


LJ  JULIUS    C^8Aii.  95 

But  there  'e  but  one  in  all  doth  hold  his  place : 
So,  in  the  world, — 't  is  furaish'd  well  with  men, 
And  men  are  flesh  and  blood,  and  apprehensive ; 
Yet  in  the  number,  I  do  know  but  one 
That  unassailable  holds  on  his  rank, 
Unshaked  of  motion  :  and,  that  I  am  he, 
i^et  me  a  little  show  it,  even  in  this, 
That  1  was  constant  Gimber  should  be  banished. 
And  constant  do  remain  to  keep  him  so. 
Gin.  O  Caesar, — 

Cces.  Hence  1     Wilt  thou  lift  up  Olympus  I 
Dec.   Great  Caesar, — 
Cces.  Doth  not  Brutus  bootless  kneel  1 
Cosca.   Speak,  hands,  for  me. 

[Casca   stabs   CiESAR   in   the    neck.       C-ESAR 
catches  hold  of  his  arm.      He  is  then  stabbed 
by  several  other  Conspirators,  and  last  by 
Marcus  Brutus. 
Cces.  Et  tu,  Brute  ;— Then  fall,  Caesar  I 

[Dies.     The  Senators  and  People  retire  in 

confusion. 
Ctn.  Liberty  !     Freedom  !     Tyranny  is  dead  1 — 
Run  hence,  proclaim,  cry  it  about  the  streets. 

Cas.  Some  to  the  common  pulpits,  and  cry  out> 
*  Liberty,  freedom,  and  enfranchisement ! ' 

Bru,  People,  and  senators,  be  not  affrighted  ; 


96  jxriiiue  cjesa^.  [Act  iii 

Fly  not ;  stand  still : — ambition's  debt  ia  pftid. 

Casca.   Go  to  the  pulpit,  Brutua. 

Dec  And  Cassins  too. 

Bru.  Where  's  Publius  I 

Cin.  Here,  quite  confounded  with  this  mntiny. 

ifet  Stand   £ast   together,  lest  some   friend   of 
Csesar's 
Should  chance — 

Brtt.    Talk    not    of     standing. — Publiua,    good 
cheer  : 
There  ia  no  harm  intended  to  your  person, 
Nor  to  no  Roman  else  :  so  tell  them,  Publiua, 

Cos,    And    leave   us,   Publius ;    lest    that    the 
people, 
Rushing  on  us,  should  do  your  age  some  mischief. 

Bru.  Do  BO  : — and  let  no  man  abide  this  deed 
But  we  the  doers. 

Re-^nter  Trebonius. 

CoA.  Where  's  Antony  t 

Trt.  Fled  to  his  house  amazed  : 

Men,  wives,  and  children  stare,  cry  out,  and  run 
Ajb  it  were  doomsday. 

Bru,  Fates,  we  will  know  your  pleasure* — 
That  we  shall  die,  we  know ;  't  is  but  the  timer 
And  drawing  days  out,  that  men  stand  upoa. 


Soenei.J  /TJtJUS  CJE8AJI.  9/ 

Ca».  Why,  he  that  cuti  off  twenty  years  ol  life 
Cuts  off  BO  many  years  of  fearing  death. 

Brti.  Grant  that,  and  then  is  death  a  benefit : 
So  are  we  Caesar's  friends,  that  have  abridged 
His     time     of     fearing    death. — Stoop,     Roniana, 

stoop, 
And  let  ns  bathe  our  hands  in  Caesar's  blood 
Up  to  the  elbows,  and  besmear  our  swords  : 
Then  walk  we  forth,  even  to  the  market-place ; 
And,  waving  our  red  weapons  o'er  our  heads, 
Let 's  all  cry,  '  Peace,  freedom,  and  liberty  1 ' 

Cos.  Stoop,  then,  and   wash. — How    many  ages 
hence 
Shall  this  our  lofty  scene  be  acted  over. 
In  states  unborn,  and  accents  yet  unknown  I 

Bra,  How    many    times   shall    Caesar   bleed   in 
sport, 
That  now  on  Pompey's  basis  lies  along 
No  worthier  than  the  dust  I 

Cos,  So  oft  as  that  shall  bo, 

So  often  shall  the  knot  of  ns  be  called 
The  men  that  gave  their  country  liberty, 

Dec.  What,  shall  we  forth  I 

Ca9.  Ay,  every  man  away  ; 

BrutuB  shall  lead  ;  and  we  will  grace  his  heels 
W^itb  the  most  boldest  and  best  hearts  of  Borne. 


S8  jruiiivB  CiESAB.  tActm. 

Enter  a  Servctnl, 

Bru,  Soft  I    who   comes   here  1      A    friend    of 
Antony's. 

Serv.  Thus,    Brutus,   did    my    master    bid    me 
kneel ; 
Thus  did  Mark  Antony  bid  me  fall  down, 
And,  being  prostrate,  thus  he  bade  me  say : 
Brutus  is  noble,  wise,  valiant,  and  honest ; 
Osesar  was  mighty,  bold,  royal,  and  loving : 
Say,  I  love  Brutus,  and  I  honour  him ; 
Say,  I  feared  Caesar,  honoured  him,  and  loved  him 
If  Brutus  will  vouchsafe  that  Antony 
May  safely  come  to  him,  and  be  resolved 
How  Ca?sar  hath  deserved  to  lie  in  death, 
Mark  Antony  shall  not  love  Caesar  dead 
So  well  as  Brutus  living ;  but  will  follow 
The  foi-tunes  and  affairs  of  noble  Brutus 
Thorough  the  hazards  of  this  untrod  state, 
With  all  true  faith.     So  says  my  master  Antony. 

Bru.  Thy  master  is  a  wise  and  valiant  Roman  ; 
I  never  thought  him  worse. 
Tell  him,  so  please  him  come  unto  this  place. 
He  shall  be  satisfied  ;  and,  by  my  honour, 
Depart  un touch ed 

Serv.  I  '11  fete]  I  him  presently.  {^Eadl 


SoeneLj  JTTLIUS   C^SAB.  99 

Bru,  I  know  that  we  shall  have  him   well  to 
frienii 

Cos.  I  wish  we  may  :  but  yet  have  I  a  mind 
That  fears  him  much  ;  and  my  misgiving  still 
Falls  shrewdly  to  the  purpose. 

Re-enter  Ai^tony. 

Bru.  But  here  comes  Antony. — "Welcome,  Mark 
Antony. 

AnL   0  mighty  Caesar  !  dost  thou  lie  so  low  1 
Are  all  thy  conquests,  glories,  triumphs,  spoils, 
Shrunk  to  this  little  measure  % — Fare  thee  well.— 
I  know  not,  gentlemen,  what  you  intend, 
Wlio  else  must  be  let  blood,  who  else  is  rank : 
If  I  myself,  there  is  no  hour  so  fit 
As  CfEsar's  death's  hour ;  nor  no  instrument 
Of  half  that  worth  as  those  your  swords  made  rich 
With  the  most  noble  blood  of  all  this  world. 
I  do  beseech  ye,  if  you  bear  me  hard, 
Now,    whilst    your    purpled    harirl-^    do    reek    &nd 

smoke, 
Fulfil  your  pleasure.     Live  a  thousand  years, 
I  shall  not  find  myself  so  apt  to  die  : 
No  place  will  please  me  so,  no  mean  of  death, 
As  here  by  Ca3sar,  and  by  you  cut  off, 
The  dhoice  and  master  spirits  of  tt  is  agCb 


100  JTTLIUB   CJE8AB.  [ Aot  HL 

Bru,  O  Antony,  beg  not  your  death  of  na. 
Though  now  we  must  appear  bloody  and  cruel. 
As,  by  our  hands,  and  this  our  present  act, 
You  see  we  do,  yet  see  you  hut  our  hands, 
And  this  the  bleeding  business  they  have  done : 
Our  hearts  you  see  not, — they  are  pitiful ; 
And  pity  to  the  general  wrong  of  Rome — 
As  tire  drives  out  fire,  so  pity  pity — 
Hath  done  this  deed  on  Caesar.     For  your  p^rt, 
To   you    our   sworda    have    leaden    points,   Mark 

Antony, 
Onr  arms,  no  strength  of  malice  ;  and  our  hearts, 
Of  brothers'  temper,  do  receive  you  in 
With  all  kind  love,  good  thoughts,  and  reverence, 

Cos.  Your  voice  shall  be  as  strong  as  any  man's 
In  the  disposing  of  new  dignities, 

Bru.  Only  be  patient,  till  we  have  appeased 
The  multitude,  beside  themselves  with  fear. 
And  then  we  will  deliver  you  the  cause, 
Why  I,  that  did  love  Caesar  when  I  struck  him, 
Have  thus  proceeded. 

Ant.  I  doubt  not  of  your  wisdom. 

Let  each  man  render  me  his  bloody  hand  : 
First,  Marcus  Brutus,  will  I  shake  with  you  j 
Next,  Caius  Cassius,  do  I  take  your  hand  ; 
Now,  Decius  Brutus,  yonrs  ;  now  yours,  Metellus; 


Scene  1.]  JULIUS   C.ESAE.  101 

Yours,  Cinna ;  and,  my  valiant  Oasca,  yours  ; 
Though  last,   not  least  in  love,  yours,  good  Tre- 

bonius. 
Gentlemen  all, — alas,  what  shall  I  say  1 
My  credit  now  stands  on  such  slippery  ground 
That  one  of  two  bad  ways  you  must  conceit  me, 
Either  a  coward  or  a  flatterer. — 
That  I  did  love  thee,  Ciesar,  O,  't  is  true  : 
If  then  thy  spirit  look  upon  us  now. 
Shall  it  not  grieve  thee,  dearer  than  thy  death, 
To  see  thy  Antony  making  his  peace. 
Shaking  the  bloody  fingers  of  thy  foes, 
Most  noble  !  in  the  presence  of  thy  corse  1 
Had  I  as  many  eyes  as  thou  hast  wounds. 
Weeping  as  fast  as  they  stream  forth  thy  blood, 
It  would  become  me  better  than  to  close 
In  terms  of  friendship  with  thine  enemies. 
Pardon  me,  Julius  ! — Here  wast  thou  bayed,  brave 

hart ; 
Here  didst  thou  fall ;  and  here  thy  hunters  stand. 
Signed  in  thy  spoil,  and  crimsoned  in  thy  lethe. 
0  world,  thou  wast  the  forest  to  this  hart ; 
And  this,  indeed,  O  world,  the  heart  of  thee.^ 
How  like  a  deer,  strucken  by  many  princes, 
Dost  thou  here  lie  ! 

Cas.    Mark  Antony,— 


102  juijus  c^siLa.  '   [Aotm. 

Ant,  Pardon  me,  Cains  Oassias : 

The  enemies  of  Caesar  shall  say  this ; 
Then,  in  a  friend,  it  is  cold  modesty. 

Co*.   I  blame  you  not  for  praising  Caesar  bo  : 
But  what  compact  mean  you  to  have  w-ith  us  1 
Will  you  be  pricked  in  number  of  our  friends, 
Or  shall  we  on,  and  not  depend  on  you  ? 

Ant.    Therefore  I   took  your  hands;    but  was, 
indeed, 
Swayed  from  the  point  by  looking  down  on  Caesar 
Friends  am  I  with  you  all,  and  love  you  all, 
Upon  this  hope,  that  you  shall  give  me  reasona 
Why  and  wherein  Caesar  was  dangerous. 

Bru.  Or  else  were  this  a  savage  spectacle. 
Our  reasons  are  so  full  of  good  regard, 
That  were  you,  Antony,  the  son  of  Caesar, 
You  should  be  satisfied. 

Ant.  '  That 's  all  I  seek : 

And  am  moreover  suitor  that  I  may 
Produce  his  body  to  the  market-place  j 
And  in  the  pulpit,  as  becomes  a  friend, 
Speak  in  the  order  of  his  funeral. 

Bru.   You  shall,  Mark  Antony. 

Cos.  Brutus,  a  word  with  yoiL — 

[A fide  to  Bmtiis.]  You  know  not  what  you  do ;  do 
not  consent 


BeeneLI  JULITIS  C^SAB.  103 

That  ^jitony  speak  in  his  funeral. 

Know  you  how  much  the  people  may  be  moved 

By  that  which  he  will  utter  1 

Bru.  By  your  pardon  ;— 

I  will  myself  into  the  pulpit  first, 
And  show  the  reason  of  our  Caesar's  death : 
What  Antony  shall  speak,  I  will  protest 
He  speaks  by  leave  and  by  permission  ; 
And  that  we  are  contented  Caesar  shall 
Have  all  due  rites  and  lawful  ceremonies. 
It  shall  advantage  more  than  do  us  wrong. 

Cos.  I  know  not  what  may  fall ;  I  like  it  not. 

Bru.    Mark   Antony,    here,    take   you   Oaesar*! 
body. 
You  shall  not  in  your  funeral  speech  blame  us, 
But  speak  all  good  you  can  devise  of  Caesar ; 
And  say,  you  do  't  by  our  permission  ; 
£lse  shall  you  not  have  any  hand  at  all 
About  his  funeral     And  you  shall  speak 
In  the  same  pulpit  whereto  I  am  going, 
After  my  speech  is  ended. 

Ant,  Be  it  so  ; 

I  do  desire  no  more. 

Brtk  Prepare  the  body,  then,  and  follow  ua 

[Exeunt  all  but  Antont. 

Ant.  O,  pardon  me,  thou  bleeding  piece  of  earthy 


104  aUIiITJS   C.ESAB,  fAotm. 

That  I  am  meek  and  gentle  with  these  butchen ! 

Thou  art  the  ruins  of  the  noblest  man 

That  ever  livdd  in  the  tide  of  times. 

Woe  to  the  hands  that  shed  this  costly  blood  I 

Over  thy  wounds  now  do  I  prophesy, — 

Which,  like  dumb  mouths,  do  ope  their  mby  lipe 

To  beg  the  voice  and  utterance  of  my  tongue, — 

A  curse  shall  light  upon  the  limbs  of  men  ; 

Domestic  fury  and  fierce  civil  strife, 

Shall  cumber  all  the  parts  of  Italy  ; 

Blood  and  destniction  shall  be  so  in  use, 

And  dreadful  objects  so  familiar, 

That  mothers  shall  but  smile  when  they  behold 

Their  infants  quartered  with  the  hands  of  war, 

All  pity  choked  with  custom  of  fell  deeds : 

And  Csesar's  spirit,  ranging  for  revenge. 

With  At^  by  his  side,  come  hot  from  hell, 

Shall  in  these  confines  with  a  monarch's  voic3 

Cry  *  Havoc  ! '  and  let  slip  the  dogs  of  war  ; 

That  this  foul  deed  shall  smell  above  the  eart 

With  carrion  men  groaning  for  burial 

CiUer  a  Servant. 
You  serve  Octavius  Oaesar,  do  you  not ! 
Serv.  I  do,  Mark  Antony. 
Ant.  Caesar  did  write  for  him  to  oome  to  Romfli 


Scene  L]  JULIUS   CiESAE.  105 

Serv.  He  did  receive  his  letters,  and  ia  coming  ; 
And  bid  me  say  to  you  by  word  of  mouth, — 
0  Csesar  ! —  [^Seeing  the  body. 

Ant.  Thy  heart  is  big,  get  thee  apart  and  weep. 
Passion,  I  see,  is  catching ;  for  mine  eyes, 
Seeing  those  beads  of  sorrow  stand  in  thine, 
Began  to  water.     Is  thy  master  coming  ? 

Serv^  He  Ues  to-night  within  seven  leagues  of 
Borne. 

Ant.  Post  back  with  speed,  and  tell  him  what, 
hath  chanced  : 
Here  is  a  mourning  Rome,  a  dangerous  Rome, 
No  Rome  of  safety  for  Octavius  yet ; 
Hie  hence,  and  tell  him  so.     Yet  stay  awhile ; 
Thou  shalt  not  back,  till  I  have  .borne  this  corse 
Into  the  market-place  :  there  shall  I  try, 
Ln  my  oration,  how  the  people  take 
The  cruel  issue  of  these  bloody  men  ; 
According  to  the  which  thou  shalt  discourse 
To  young  Octavius  of  the  state  of  things. 
Lend  me  your  ban  1. 

[ExevMtf  with  OiESAB's  bodjf. 


108  JTHilUS   CMSAR.  [Act  tQ. 


Scene  EC. — Rome.     The  Fomm. 

Ent^r  Brui-UB  and  Cassius,  and  a  throng  of 
Citizens. 

Cit.  We  will  be  satisfied  ;  let  us  be  satisfied. 

Bru.   Then  follow  me,   and   give  me   audience, 
friends, — 
Cassius,  go  you  into  the  other  street, 
And  part  the  numbers. — 

Those  that  will  hear  me  speak,  let  them  stay  here  ; 
Those  that  will  follow  Cassius,  go  with  him  ; 
And  public  reasons  shall  be  rendered 
Of  Caesar's  death. 

1  Cit.  I  will  hear  Brutus  speak. 

2  CiL  I  will  hear   Cassius ;  and  compare  their 

reasons, 
When  severally  we  hear  them  rendered. 
[^Exii  Cassius,  with  some  of  the  Citizens.    Brutus 

goes  into  the  pulpit. 
S  Cit.  The  noble  Brutus  is  ascended.  Silence  ! 
Bru.  Be  patient  till  the  last. 
Romans,  countrymen,  and  lovers  1  hear  me  for  my 
cause ;  and  be  silent,  that  you  may  hear  :  beiieve 
me  for  mine  honour ;  and  have  respect  to  mine 
honour,  that  you  may  believe  :  censuie  me  in  joui 


2.]  JULIUS   C^SAB.  107 

vrisdom ;  and  awake  your  senses,  that  you  may  the 

better  judge.  If  there  be  any  in  this  assembly, 
any  dear  friend  of  Caesar's,  to  him  I  say,  that 
Brutus'  love  to  Csesar  was  no  less  than  his.  IT 
then  tliat  friend  demand,  why  Brutus  rose  against 
Caesar,  this  is  my  answer, — Not  that  I  loved 
Csesar  less,  but  that  I  loved  Rome  more.  Had 
you  rather  Csesar  were  living,  and  die  all  slaves, 
than  that  Cassar  were  dead,  to  live  all  free  men  f 
As  Csesar  loved  rae,  I  weep  for  him ;  as  he  was 
fortunate,  I  rejoice  at  it ;  as  he  was  valiant,  I 
honour  him  ;  but,  as  he  was  ambitious,  I  slew  him. 
There  is  tears  for  his  love;  joy  for  his  fortune; 
honour  for  his  valour ;  and  death  for  his  ambition. 
Who  is  here  so  base,  that  would  be  a  bondman  1 
If  any,  speak ;  for  him  have  I  ofifended.  Who  is 
here  so  rude,  that  would  not  be  a  Roman  1  If  any, 
speak  ;  for  him  have  I  offended.  Who  is  here  so 
vile,  that  will  not  love  his  country  ?  If  any, 
speak ;  for  him  have  I  offended.  I  pause  for  a 
reply. 

All.  None,  Brutus,  none. 

£ru.  Then  none  have  I  offended.  I  have  done 
QO  more  to  Caesar  than  you  shall  do  to  Brutus* 
The  question  of  his  death  is  enrolled  in  the  Capitol ; 
his  glory  not  extenuated,  wherein  he  was  worthy, 


108  JULIUS    CSISAR.  [Act  HL 

OCMT  Mi  (fences  enforced,  for  which  he  soffered 
death. 

EjUer  Antony  and  others,  with  O^esar's  body. 

Here  comes  his  body,  mourned  by  Mark  ^Vntony  : 
who,  though  he  had  no  hand  in  his  death,  shall 
receive  the  benefit  of  his  dying,  a  place  in  the 
commonwealth  ;  as  which  of  yon  shall  not !  With 
this  I  depart, — that,  as  I  slew  my  best  lover  for 
the  good  of  Rome,  I  have  the  same  dagger  for 
myself,  when  it  shall  please  my  country  to  need  my 
death. 

All.  Live,  Brutus  !  live  I  live  ! 

1  Cit.  Bring  him  with  triumph  home  unto  hie 

house. 

2  Cit  Give  him  a  statue  with  his  ancestors. 

3  Cit.  Let  him  be  Caesar. 

4  Cit.  Caesar^s  better  parts 
Shall  be  crowned  in  Brutus. 

1  Cit.  We  '11  bring  him  to  his  house  with  shoutE 

and  clamours. 
Bru.  My  countrymen,— 

2  Cit.  Peace  !  silence  !  Brutus  speaks 
J  Cit.     Peace,  ho  ! 

Bra.  Good  countrymen,  let  me  depart  alone, 
tiSid^  for  my  sake,  stay  here  %vith  Antony. 


Scene  2.  J  JULIUS    CMSAB..  109 

Do  grace  to  Caesar's  corse,  and  grace  his  speech 
Tending  to  Caesar's  glories,  which  Mark  Antony, 
By  our  permission,  is  allowed  to  make. 
I  do  entreat  you,  not  a  man  depart, 
Save  I  alone,  till  Antony  have  spoke.  [Exit. 

1  Cit.  Stay,  ho  !  and  let  us  hear  Mark  Antony. 

3  Cit.  Let  him  go  up  into  the  public  chair ; 
We  '11  hear  him. — Noble  Antony,  go  up. 

Ant.  For  Brutus'  sake,  I  am  beliolding  to  you. 

4  Cit.  What  does  he  say  of  Brutus  ? 

3  Cit.  He  says,  for  Brutus*  sake, 
He  finds  himself  beholding  to  us  all 

4  Clti  'T  were  best  he  speak  no  harm  of  Brutus 

here. 

1  Cit.  This  Caesar  was  a  tyrant. 

3  Cit.  Nay,  that 's  certain  : 

We  are  blessed  that  Rome  is  rid  of  him. 

2  Cii.  Peace  !  let  us  hear  what  Antony  can  say. 
AtU.  You  gentle  Romans, — 

Cit.  Peace,  ho  1  let  us  hear  him 

Ant.  Friends,  Romans,  countrymen,  lend  mf 
your  ears ; 

I  come  to  bury  Cajsar,  not  to  praise  him. 

The  evil  that  men  do  lives  after  tJiem ; 

The  good  is  oft  interred  with  their  bones ; 

Sc  let  it  be  with  Csesar.     The  noble  Brutiw 


no  JULIUS  C-ESAJt.  [Actm, 

Hath  told  you,  Caesar  was  ambitious  t 

If  it  were  so,  it  was  a  grievous  fault ; 

And  grievously  hath  Cjesar  answeied  it. 

Here,  under  leave  of  Brutus  and  the  rest,— 

For  Brutus  is  an  honourable  man. 

So  are  they  all,  all  honourable  men, — 

Come  I  to  speak  in  Caesar's  funeral. 

He  was  my  friend,  faithful  and  just  to  me : 

But  Brutus  says,  he  was  ambitious ; 

And  Brutus  is  an  honourable  man. 

He  hath  brought  many  captives  home  to  Rome, 

Whohc  .  ansoms  did  the  general  coffers  fill : 

Did  this  in  Caesar  seem  ambitious  1 

When  that  the  poor  have  cried,  Caesar  hath  wept  j 

Ambition  should  be  made  of  sterner  stuff: 

Yet  Brutus  says,  he  was  ambitious ; 

And  Brutus  is  an  honourable  man. 

You  all  did  see,  that  on  the  Lupercal 

I  thrice  presented  him  a  kingly  crown, 

Which  he  did  thrice  refuse  :  was  this  ambition  ? 

Yet  Brutus  says,  he  was  ambitious  ; 

And,  sure,  he  is  an  honourable  man. 

I  speak  not  to  disprove  what  Brutus  spoke, 

But  here  I  am  to  speak  what  I  do  know. 

You  all  did  love  him  once, — not  without  cause  : 

What  cause  withholds  you  then  to  mourn  for  him  ? 


8oene2.3  JULIUS   CaJSAR.  Ill 

0  judgment,  thou  art  fled  to  brutish  beasts, 

And  men  have  lost  their  reason  I — Bear  with  me ; 
ily  heart  is  in  the  coffin  there  with  Caesar, 
And  I  must  pause  till  it  come  back  to  me. 

1  Cit.  Methinks,  there   is  much   reason  in  hig 

sayings. 

2  Cit.  If  thou  consider  rightly  of  the  matter, 
Caesar  has  had  great  wrong. 

3  Cit.     '  That  has  he,  masters  1 

1  fear,  there  will  a  worse  come  in  his  place. 

4  Cit.  Marked   ye  his  words?     He  would  not 

take  the  crown : 
Therefore  't  is  certain  he  was  not  am}>itious. 

1  Cit.   If  it  be  found  so,  some  will  dear  abide  it. 

2  Cit.  Poor  soul,  his  eyes  are  red   as   fire  with 

weeping. 

3  Cit.  There 's  not  a  nobler  man  in  Rome  tlian 

Antony. 

4  Cit.  Now    mark    him ;    he   begins    again    to 

speak. 
Ant.  But  yesterday  the  word  of  Caesar  might 
Have  stood  against  the  world  :  now  lies  he  there 
And  none  so  poor  to  do  him  reverenca 

0  masters,  if  I  were  disposed  to  stir 

Your  hearts  and  minds  to  mutiny  and  rage, 

1  should  do  Brutus  wrong,  and  Cassius  wronj^ 


112  JULIUS  c^sAja.  lAct  in. 

Who,  you  all  know,  are  bonourable  men. 

I  will  not  do  them  wrong  ;  I  rather  choose 

To  wrong  the  dead,  to  wrong  myself,  and  you. 

Than  I  will  wrong  such  honourable  men. 

But  here's  a  parchment,  with  the  seal  of  Caesar ;— . 

I  found  it  in  his  closet, — '  tis  his  will 

Let  but  the  commons  hear  this  testament, — 

Which,  pardon  me,  I  do  not  mean  to  read, — 

And  they  would  go  and  kiss  dead  Cresai-'s  wounds, 

And  dip  their  napkins  in  his  sacred  blood ; 

Yea,  beg  a  hair  of  him  for  memory, 

And,  dying,  mention  it  within  their  wills, 

Bequeathing  it,  as  a  rich  legacy, 

Unto  their  issue. 

4  Cii.  We  11    hear    the    will :    read    it,    Mark 

Antony. 
AU.  The  will,  the  will  I    we  will  hear  Caesar's 

will 
AnL  Have  patience,  gentle  friends,  I  must  not 

read  it ; 
It  is  not  meet  you  know  how  Caesar  loved  you. 
You  are  not  wood,  you  are  not  stones,  but  men  ; 
And,  being  men,  hearing  the  will  of  Caesar, 
It  will  inflame  you,  it  will  make  you  mad. 
T  is  good  you  know  not  that  you  are  his  heirs ; 
For  if  you  should,  O,  what  would  come  of  it  I 


Bcene2,J  JULIUS   C^SAB.  113 

4  Cit  Kead  the  will !  we  '11  hear  it,  Antony  ; 
7ou  shall  read  us  tlie  will, — Caesar's  will. 

Ant.  Will  you  be  patient?  will  you  stay  awhile! 
I  have  o'ersliot  myself  to  tell  you  of  it. 
I  fear,  I  wrong-the  honourable  men 
Whose  daggers  have  stabbed  Caesar ;  I  do  fear  it. 

4  Cit.  They  were  traitors  : — honourable  men  ! 

All  The  will !  the  testament ! 

2  Cit.  They  were  villains,  murderers  :  The  will ! 
read  the  will  ! 

Ant.  You  will  compel  me,  then,  to  read  the  will? 
Then  make  a  ring  about  the  corse  of  Caesar, 
And  let  me  show  you  him  that  made  the  wilL 
Shall  I  descend  ?  and  will  you  give  me  leave  ? 

All.  Come  down. 

2  Cit.  Descend. 

3  Cit.  You  shall  have  leave.       [He  comes  dovjTh. 

4  Cit.  A  ring  ;  stand  round. 

1  Cit.  Stand  from   the   hearse,   stand   from   the 

body. 

2  Cit.  Room  for  Antony, — most  noble  Antony 
Ant.  Nay,  press  not  so  upon  me  ;  stand  far  off. 
Citizens.   Stand  back  !  room  !  bear  back  ! 

Ant  If  you  have  tears,   prepare  to  shed  then, 
now. 
You  all  do  know  thip  mantle  :  I  remember 


114  juuus  cssut.  LActnL 

The  first  time  ever  Caesar  put  it  on ; 

*T  was  on  a  summer's  evening,  in  his  tent^ 

That  day  he  overcame  the  Nervii  : 

Look,  in  this  place  ran  Cassius'  dagger  through  : 

See,  what  a  rent  the  envious  Casca'made  : 

Through  this,  the  well-belovM  Brutus  stabbed  ; 

And,  as  he  plucked  his  cursed  steel  away, 

Mark  how  the  blood  of  Caesar  followed  it 

As  rushing  out  of  doors,  to  be  resolved 

If  Brutus  so  unkindly  knocked,  or  no ; 

For  Brutus,  as  you  know,  was  Caesar's  angel : 

Judge,  0  you  gods,  how  dearly  Caesar  loved  him ! 

This  was  the  most  unkindest  cut  of  all ; 

For  when  the  noble  Caesar  saw  him  stab, 

Ingratitude,  more  strong  than  traitors'  arms, 

Quite  vanquished    him  :    then   burst   his   mighty 

heart ; 
And,  in  his  mantle  muffling  up  his  face, 
Even  at  the  base  of  Pompey's  statua, 
Which  all  the  while  ran  blood,  great  Caesar  fell. 
O,  what  a  fall  was  there,  my  countrymen  1 
Then  I,  and  you,  ajid  all  of  us  fell  down, 
Whilst  bloody  treason  flourished  over  us.— 
O,  now  you  weep ;  and  I  perceive,  you  feel 
The  dint  of  pity  :  these  are  gracious  drops. 
.Kind  souls,  what,  weep  you,  when  you  but  behold 


Scene  2.J  JTTLinS   C^SAB.  115 

Our  Caesar's  vesture  wounded  1     Look  you  here. 
Here  is  himself,  marred,  as  you  see,  with  traitora 

1  Cit  0  piteous  spectacle  I 

2  Cit.  O  noble  Caesar  1 

3  Cit.  O  woful  day  ! 

4  Cit.  O  traitors  !  villains  I 

1  Cit.  O  most  bloody  sight  1 

2  Cit.  We  will  be  revenged. 

Citizens.  Revenge  !    about, — seek, — bum, — fire, 
— kill, — slay, — let  not  a  traitor  live  1 
Ant.  Stay,  countrymen. 

1  Cit.  Peace,  there  !     Hear  the  noble  Antony. 

2  Cit.  We  '11  hear  him,  we  '11  follow  him,  we  '11 
die  with  him. 

Ant.  Good  friends,  sweet  friends,  let  me  not  stir 
you  up 
To  such  a  sudden  flood  of  mutiny. 
They  that  have  done  this  deed  are  honourable  : — 
What  private  griefs  they  have,  alas,  I  know  not, 
That  made  them  do 't : — they  're  wise  and  honour- 
able. 
And  will,  no  doubt,  with  reasons  answer  you. 
I  come  not,  friends,  to  steal  away  your  hearts  : 
I  am  no  orator,  as  Brutus  is ; 
But,  as  you  know  me  all,  a  plain  blunt  man, 
That  love  my  friend ;  and  that  they  know  full  well 


116  JDXIUS  C^SAB.  [Aotm, 

That  gave  me  public  lea\^e  to  speak  of  him. 
For  I  have  neither  wit,  nor  words,  nor  worth, 
Action,  nor  utterance,  nor  the  power  of  speech, 
To  stir  men's  blood  :  I  only  speak  right  on ; 
r  tell  you  that  which  you  yourselves  do  know  ; 
Show  you  sweet  Caesar's  wounds,  poor  poor  dumb 

mouths, 
And  bid  them  speak  for  me  :  but  were  I  Brutus, 
And  Brutus  Antony,  there  were  an  Antony 
Would  ruffle  up  your  spirits,  and  put  a  tongue 
In  every  wound  of  Csesar,  that  should  move 
The  stones  of  Rome  to  rise  and  mutiny. 

Citizens.   We  '11  mutiny  ! 

1  Cit.  W^e  '11  burn  the  house  of  Brutus  ! 

3  Cit.  Away,  then !  come,  seek  the  conspirators. 

Ant   Yet    hear    me,   countrymen ;  yet  hear  me 
speak. 

Citizens.    Peace,    ho  1       Hear    Antony, —  most 
noble  Antony. 

Ant.  Why,  friends,  you  go  to  do  you  know  noi 
what 
Wherein  hath  Csesar  thus  deserved  your  loves  1 
Alas,  you  know  not, — I  must  tell  you,  then  : — 
You  have  forgot  the  will  I  told  you  of. 

Citizens.   Most  true ; — the  will : — let 's  stay  tmd 
hear  the  wilb 


Scene  2.]  JTJLIUS   C^SAJl.  117 

ArU.  Here  is  the  will,  and  under  Caesar's  seal  :— 
To  every  Roman  citizen  he  gives, 
To  every  several  man,  seventy-five  drachmas. 

2  Cit.  Most   noble   Caesar  1 — we  '11    revenge   hk 

death. 

3  Cit.  O  royal  Caesar  I 

Ant.  Hear  me  with  patience. 

Citizens.  Peace,  ho ! 

Ant.  Moreover,  he  hath  left  you  all  his  walks. 
His  private  arbours,  and  new-planted  orchards, 
On  this  side  Tiber :  he  hath  left  them  you, 
And  to  your  heirs  for  ever, — common  pleasures, 
To  walk  abroad,  and  recreate  yourselves. 
Here  was  a  Caesar !  when  comes  such  another  % 

1  Cit.  Never,  never  ! — Come,  away,  away  I 
We  *11  bum  his  body  in  the  holy  place, 
And  with  the  brands  fire  the  traitors'  houses. 
Take  up  the  body. 

2  Cit.  Go,  fetch  fire  I 

3  Cit.  Pluck  down  benches  1 

4  Cit.  Pluck  down  forms,  windows,  anything  I 

[^Exeunt  Citizens,  with  the  body. 
Ani.  Now    let    it    work : — mischief,   thou    arl 
afoot. 
Take  thou  what  course  thou  wilt  1 


118  zuZjIUB  cacsAn.  [Act  nx 

Enter  a  Servant. 

How  now,  fellow  1 
Sere,  Sir,  Octavius  is  already  come  to  Rome. 
Ani.  Where  is  he  1 

Serv.  He  and  Lepidus  are  at  Caesar's  housa 
Ant.  And  thither  will  I  straight  to  visit  him. 
He  comes  upon  a  wisL     Fortune  is  merry, 
And  in  this  mood  will  give  us  anything. 

Serv.  I  heard  him  say,  Brutus  and  Cassius 
Are  rid  like  madmen  through  the  gates  of  Rome. 
AnL  Belike  they  had  some  notice  of  the  people 
How  I  had  moved  them.     Bring  me  to  Octavius. 

[Exeunt. 


Scene  III. — Rome.     A  Street 
Enter  Cinna,  the  Poet 
Cin.  I  dreamt  to-night,  that  I   did  feajit  with 
Caesar, 
AnH  things  unlucky  charge  my  fantasy. 
I  have  no  will  to  wander  forth  of  doora, 
Yet  KMnething  leads  me  forth. 

Enter  Citizens, 
I  Cii.  What  is  your  name  I 


8.3  jniTLIUS   CjESAR,  119 

2  Cit.  Whither  are  you  going  1 

3  Cit,  Where  do  you  dwell  1 

4  Cit.  Are  you  a  mariied  man,  or  a  bachelor? 

2  Cit.   Answer  every  man  directly. 

1  Cit.   Ay,  and  briefly. 
4  Cit.  Ay,  and  wisely. 

3  Cit.  Ay,  and  truly  ;  you  were  best 

Cin.  What  is  my  name  ]  Whither  am  I  going  ? 
Where  do  I  dwell  ]  Am  I  a  married  man,  or  a 
bachelor  1  Then,  to  answer  every  man  directly  and 
briefly,  wisely  and  truly  :  wisely  I  say,  I  am  a 
bachelor. 

2  Cii.  That 's  £is  much  as  to  say,  they  are  fools 
that  marry : — you  '11  bear  me  a  bang  for  that,  I 
fear.     Proceed ;  directly. 

Cin.  Directly,  I  am  going  to  Caesar's  funeraL 

1  Cil.  As  a  friend,  or  an  enemy  1 
Cin.  As  a  friend. 

2  Cit.  That  matter  is  answered  directly, 

4  Cit.  For  your  dwellinj^, — briefly. 
Cin.  Briefly,  I  dwell  by  the  Capitoi 

3  Cit  Your  name,  sir,  truly. 
Cin.  Truly,  my  name  in  Cinna. 

1  Cit   Tear  him  to  pieces,  he  's  a  conspirator 
Cin    I    am    Cinna  the  poet;  I  am    Ouuu^   tSap 
poet 


120  JULIUS    CJESAR.  [Act  IV. 

4  Cit.  Tear  him  for  his  bad  verses,  tear  him  for 
his  bad  verses. 

Cin.  I  am  not  Cinna  the  conspirator. 

2  Git.  It  is  no  matter,  his  name 's  Cinna ;  pluck 
but  his  name  out  of  his  heart,  and  turn  him  going. 

3  Cit.  Tear  him,  tear  him  !  Come,  brands,  ho  ! 
tire-brands!  To  Brutus',  to  Cassius' ;  burn  alL 
Some  to  Decius'  house,  and  some  to  Ca-sni's  ;  some 
to  Ligarius'.     Away  !  go  !  \_Exeunt. 


ACT  lY. 
Scene  I. — Rome.     A  Room  in  Antony's  House. 
Antony,  Octavius,  and  Lepidus,  seated  at  a  table. 

Ant.  These  many,  then,  shall  die ;  their  names 

are  pricked. 
Oct.  Your  brother  too  must  die ;  consent  you, 

Lepidus  ] 
Lep.  I  do  consent, — 

Oct.  Prick  him  down,  Antony. 

Lep.  Upon  condition  Publius  shall  not  live, 
Wlio  is  your  sister's  son,  Mark  Antony. 

Ant.  He   shall  not  live ;    look,   with   a  spot    ] 

damn  him. 


Scene  LJ  JTJIiIxrS   GMSAS,.  121 

But,  Lepidus,  go  jou  to  Caesar's  house ; 
Fetch  the  will  hither,  and  we  shall  determine 
How  to  cut  off  some  charge  iu  legacies. 

Lep.  What,  shall  I  find  you  here  1 

Oct.  Or  here,  or  at  the  CapitoL     [Exit  Lepidus 

Ant.  This  is  a  slight  unmeri table  man, 
Meet  to  be  sent  on  errands :  is  it  fit, 
The  three-fold  world  divided,  he  should  stand 
One  of  the  three  to  share  it  ? 

Oct.  So  you  thought  hit&  j 

Ajid  took  his  voice  who  should  be  pricked  to  die, 
In  our  black  sentence  and  proscription. 

Ant.  Octavius,  I  have  seen  more  days  th&u  you: 
And  though  we  lay  these  honours  on  this  man 
To  ease  ourselves  of  divers  slanderous  loads. 
He  shall  but  bear  them  as  the  ass  bears  gold, 
To  groan  and  sweat  under  the  business, 
Either  led  or  driven  as  we  point  the  way; 
And  having  brought  our  treasure  where  we  will, 
Then  take  we  down  his  load,  and  turn  him  oft, 
Like  to  the  empty  ass,  to  shake  his  ears 
And  graze  in  commons. 

Oct.  You  may  do  your  will ; 

But  he 's  a  tried  and  valiant  soldier. 

Ant.  So  is  my  horse,  Octavius ;  and  for  that 
I  do  appoint  him  store  of  provender  : 


122  JULIUS  CJESAB.  lActrv 

It  u  a  creature  that  I  t^ach  to  fight, 

To  wind,  to  stop,  to  run  directly  on, 

His  corporal  motion  governed  bj  my  spirit. 

And,  in  some  taste,  is  Lepidus  but  so  ; 

He  must  be  taught,  and  trained,  and  bid  go  forth ; 

A  barren-spirited  fellow  ;  one  that  feeds 

On  abject  orts,  and  imitations, 

Which,  out  of  use  and  staled  by  other  men. 

Begin  his  fashion  : — do  not  talk  of  him 

But  as  a  property.     And  now,  Octavius, 

Listen  great  things  : — Brutus  and  CassiuB 

Are  le\'ytng  powers  :  we  must  straight  make  head  : 

Therefore  let  our  alliance  be  combined, 

Our    best    friends    made,    and    our    best    means 

stretched  out ; 
And  let  us  presently  go  sit  in  council 
How  covert  matters  may  be  best  disclosed. 
And  open  perils  surest  answered. 

Oct  Let  us  do  so     for  we  are  at  the  stake, 
And  bayed  about  with  many  enemies  ; 
And  some  that  smile  have  in  their  hearts,  T  fear, 
Millioxia  of  misciuuta.  ^£xetml 


SceDfi2.]  JWLXUS  O.S£AEU  123 

ScENi  n. — Before  Brutus's  Tent^  in  the  Camp 

near  Sardis. 
Drum,      Enter  Brutus,  Lucilius,  Lucius,  tmd 

Soldiers:   Titinius  mid  Pindarus  meet  them. 

Bru.  Stand,  ho ! 

Lucil.  Give  the  word,  ho  I  and  stand. 

Bru.  What  now,  Lucilius  1  is  Cassius  near  1 

Lucil.  He  is  at  hand  ;  and  Pindarus  is  oome 
To  do  you  salutation  from  his  master. 

Bru.  He  greets  me  well — Your    master,  Pin. 
darus, 
In  his  own  change,  or  by  ill  officers, 
Hath  given  me  some  worthy  cause  to  wish 
Things  done,  undone  ;  but,  if  he  be  at  hand, 
I  shall  be  satisfied. 

Pin.  I  do  not  doubt, 

But  that  my  noble  master  will  appear 
Such  as  he  is,  full  of  regard  and  honour. 

Bru.  He  is  not  doubted. — A  word,  Luciliua  i 
How  he  received  you,  let  me  be  resolved. 

LucU.  With  courtesy  and  with  respect  enough ; 
But  not  with  such  familiar  instances 
Nor  with  such  free  and  friendly  conference 
As  he  hath  used  of  old. 

Bru.  Thou  hast  described 


124  JXTLIirS   C^SAJB.  [Act  IV. 

A  hot  friend  cooling.     Ever  note,  Luciliui, 
When  love  begins  to  sicken  and  decay 
It  useth  an  enforced  ceremony. 
There  are  no  tricks  in  plain  and  simple  faith : 
But  hollow  men,  like  horses  hot  at  hand, 
Make  gallant  show  and  promise  of  their  mettle  j 
But  when  they  should  endure  the  bloody  spur, 
They  fall  their  crests,  and,  like  deceitful  jades, 
Sink  in  the  trial.      Comes  his  army  on  1 

Liicil.  They  mean  this    niglit  in    Sardis  to  be 
quartered  ; 
The  greater  part,  the  horse  in  general, 
Are  come  with  Cassius.  [Afarch  within. 

Bra.  Hark  1  he  is  arrived. — 

March  gently  on  to  meet  him. 

Enter  Cassius  and  Soldiers, 
Cos.  Stand,  ho  1 
Bru.  Stand,  ho  1  repeat  the  word  along. 

1  Sold.  Stand ! 

2  Sold   Stand  1 

3  Sold.  Stand ! 

Cos.  Most  noble  brother,   you    have   done   me 

wrong. 
Brti.  Judge    me,    you    gods  1    wrong    1    mine 

enemies  1 


Scenes.]  JULIUS   C^SAR.  125 

And  if  not  so,  how  should  I  wrong  a  brother  1 

Cas.  BrutiTS,    this   sober   form    of  yours    hides 
wrongs ; 
And  when  you  do  theri.> — 

Bru.  Cassius,  be  content; 

Speak  your  griefs  softly, — I  do  know  you  well. 
Before  the  eyes  of  both  our  armies  here. 
Which  should  perceive  nothing  but  love  from  us, 
Let  us  not  wrangle  :  bid  them  move  away ; 
Then  in  my  tent,  Cassius,  enlarge  your  griefs, 
And  I  will  give  you  audience. 

Cas.  Pindarus, 

Bid  out  commanders  lead  their  charges  off 
A  little  from  this  ground. 

Jj7'u.   Lucius,  do  you  the  like  ;  and  let  no  man 
"Come  tc  our  tent  till  we  have  done  our  conference. 
Lucilius  and  Titinius,  guard  our  door.        [Exeunt. 


ScE2^fi  III.— Within  the  Tent  of  Brutus. 
Enter  Brutus  and  Cassius. 
Cas.  That  you  have  wi'onged  me,  doth  appear  in 

this, — 
You  have  condemned  and  noted  Lucius  Bella 
For  taking  bribes  here  of  the  Sardians ; 


128  JUIilllB    CMSAJR.  l&jcl  IV. 

Wherein  my  letters,  praying  on  his  side 
Becanse  I  knew  the  man,  were  slighted  ofL 

Bru.  You  wronged  yourself  to  writ©  in  auch  • 


Cos.  In  such  a  time  as  this  it  is  not  meet 
That  every  nice  offence  should  bear  his  comment, 

Bru.  Let  me  tell  you,  Cassius,  you  yourself 
Are  much  condemned  to  have  an  itching  palm ; 
To  sell  and  mart  your  offices  for  gold 
To  undeservers. 

Cos.  I  an  itching  palm  1 

You  know,  that  you  are  Brutus  that  speak  this, 
Or,  by  the  gods,  this  speech  were  else  youh  last. 

BriL.  The  name  of  Cassius  honours  this  corrup- 
tion. 
And  chastisement  does  therefore  hide  his  head. 

Cos.  Chastisement  1 

Bru.   Remember  March,  the  idea  of  !March  re- 
member : 
Did  not  great  Julius  bleed  for  justice'  sake  1 
What  villain  touched  his  body,  that  did  stab, 
And  not  for  justice?     What,  shall  one  of  ua, 
That  struck  the  foremost  man  of  all  this  world 
But  for  supporting  robbers,  shall  we  now 
Contaminate  our  fingers  with  base  bribes. 
And  sell  the  mighty  space  of  our  large  honours 


I 


Scenes.]  JULIUS  CiESAE.  127 

For  SO  mucia  trash  as  luaj  be  grasped  thus  ? 
I  had  ratiier  be  a  dog,  and  bay  the  moon, 
Than  such  a  Roman. 

Cas.  Brutus,  bay  not  me, 

I  '11  not  endure  it :  you  forget  yourself, 
To  hedge  me  in ;  I  am  a  soldier,  I, 
Older  in  practice,  abler  than  yourself 
To  make  conditions. 

Bru.  Go  to  ;  you  are  not,  Cassiua. 

Cas.  I  am. 

Bru.  I  say,  you  are  not. 

Cas.  Urge  me  no  more,  I  shall  forget  myself ; 
Have  mind  upon  your  healtli,  tempt  me  no  further. 

Bru.  Away,  slight  man  ! 

Cas.  Is  't  possible  1 

Bru.  Hear  me,  for  I  will  speak. 

Must  I  give  way  and  room  to  your  rash  choler  ? 
Shall  I  be  frighted  when  a  madman  stares  ? 

Cas.  O  ye  gods,  ye  gods  !     Must  I  endure  all 
this*? 

J^ru.  All  this  1    ay,  more  :    fret,  till  your  proud 
heart  break  ; 
Go,  show  your  slaves  how  choleric  you  are, 
And  make  your  bondmen  tremble.     Must  I  budge  1 
Must  I  observe  you  1     Must  I  stand  and  crouch 
Under  your  testy  humour  J     By  the  gods, 


128  JULIUS   CESAR.  [Act.  IV. 

You  shall  digest  the  venom  of  your  spleen, 
Tliough  it  do  split  you ;  for  from  this  day  forth, 
I  '11  use  you  for  my  mirth,  yea,  for  my  laughter, 
When  you  are  waspish. 

Cas.  Is  it  come  to  this  ? 

Bru,  You  say,  you  are  a  better  soldier  : 
Let  it  appear  so ;  make  your  vaunting  true, 
And  it  shall  please  me  well :  for  mine  own  part, 
I  shall  be  glad  to  learn  of  noble  men. 

Cas.  You  wrong  me  every  way  ;  you  wrong  me, 
Brutus ; 
I  gaid,  an  elder  soldier,  not  a  better : 
Did  1  say,  better  1 

Btvh  If  you  did,  I  care  not. 

Cas.  "When  Csesar  lived,  he  durst  not  thns  have 
moved  me. 

Bru.  Peace,    peace !    you    durst    not   go    have 
tempted  him. 

Cas.   I  durst  not  ' 

Bru,    No. 

Cos.    What,  durst  not  tempt  him  I 

Bru.  For  your  life  you  durst  not 

Cds.   Do  not  presume  too  much  upon  my  love; 
I  may  do  that  I  shall  be  sorry  for. 

Bra.   You   have  done  that  you  should  b«  sorry 
fcp. 


a]  JTJIilUS   C^SAR.  159 

There  is  no  terror,  Cassius,  in  your  threats ; 

For  I  am  armed  so  strong  in  honesty, 

That  they  pass  by  me  as  the  idle  wind, 

Which  I  respect  not.     I  did  send  to  you 

For  certain  sums  of  gold,  which  you  denied  me  y— 

For  I  can  raise  no  money  by  vile  means  : 

By  heaven,  I  had  rather  coin  my  heart, 

And  drop  my  blood  for  drachmas,  than  to  wring 

From  the  hard  hands  of  peasants  their  vile  trash 

By  any  indirection  ; — I  did  send 

To  you  for  gold  to  pay  my  legions, 

Which  you  denied  me  :  was  that  done  like  Cassius  t 

Should  I  have  answered  Caius  Cassius  so? 

When  Marcus  Brutus  grows  so  covetous, 

To  lock  such  rascal  counters  from  his  friends, 

Be  ready,  gods,  with  all  your  thunderbolts ; 

Dash  him  to  pieces  ! 

Cos.  I  denied  you  not 

Drtu  You  did. 

Cos,  I  did  not :  he  was  but  a  fool 

That  brought  my  answer  back. — Brutus  hath  rived 

my  heart : 
A  friend  should  bear  his  friend's  infirmities, 
But  Brutus  makes  mine  greater  than  they  aim, 

Bru.  I  do  not,  till  you  practise  them  on  m#- 

C««.  You  love  me  not. 


180  JUUUS   CESAB.  [Act  IV. 

Bru,  I  do  not  like  your  faults. 

Ccu.   A  friendly  eye  could  never  see  guch  fault& 

Bru,  A   flatterer's  would  not,   though   they  do 
appear 
As  huge  as  high  Olympus. 

Cos.   Come,  Antony,  and  young  Octavitui,  come, 
Revenge  yourselves  alone  on  Cassiua, 
For  Cassius  is  aweary  of  the  world  ; 
Hated  by  one  he  loves ;  braved  by  his  brother  , 
Checked  like  a  bondman  ;  all  his  faults  observed, 
Set  in  a  note-book,  learned,  and  conned  by  rote, 
To  cast  into  my  t^eth.     0,  I  could  weep 
My  spirit  from  mine  eyes  1 — There  is  my  dagger, 
And  here  my  naked  breast ;  within,  a  heart 
Dearer  than  Plutua'  mine,  richer  than  gold : 
If  that  thou  be'st  a  Roman,  take  it  forth ; 
I,  that  denied  thee  gold,  will  give  my  heart : 
Strike,  as  thou  didst  at  Caesar ;  for,  I  know. 
When  thou  didst  hate  him  worst,  thou  lov'dst  him 

better 
Than  ever  thou  lov'dst  Cassius. 

J?ru.  Sheathe  your  dsigger  : 

Be  angry  when  you  will,  it  shall  have  scope ; 
Do  what  you  will,  dishonour  shall  be  humour. 
O  Cassius  !  you  are  yoked  with  a  lamb 
That  carries  anjier,  as  the  flint  bears  fir^  ; 


Scene  3.]  JULIUS   C^SAR.  131 

Who,  much  enforced,  shows  a  hasty  spark, 
And  straight  is  cold  again. 

Cas.  Hath  Cassius  li\'ed 

To  be  but  mirth  and  laughter  to  his  Brutus, 
When  grief,  and  blood  ill-tempered,  vexeth  him  1 

Bru.  When  I  spoke   that,   I   was   ill-tempered 
too. 

Cas.  Do  you  confess  so  much  ]     Give  me  your 
hand. 

Bru.  And  my  heart  too. 

Cas.  0  Brutus ! 

Bru.  What's  the  matter  1 

Cas.  Have  you  not  love  enough  to  bear    with 
me. 
When  that  rash  humour  which   my  mother  gave 

me 
Makes  me  forgetful  1 

Bru.  Yes,  Cassius  ;  and,  from  henceforth, 
When  you  are  over  earnest  with  your  Brutus, 
He  '11  think  your  mother  chides,  and  \e-a.vQ  you  so. 

\_Noise  within. 

Poet.  [Within.'j  Let  me  go  in  to  see  the  gener-als  : 
There  is  some  grudge  between  'em  ;  't  is  not  meet 
They  be  alone.        ^ 

Lucil.  \Wit1iin.'\  You  shall  not  come  to  them. 

Poet.  \  Within.']  Nothing  but  death  shall  stay  me. 


132  JTJLITJS  C^SAIt.  [Actrv. 

Enter  Poet,  followed  by  Lucilius,   Titinius,  and 
Lucius. 
Cas.  How  now  1     What's  the  matter  1 
Poet.   For  shame,  you  generals  !     What  do  you 
mean? 
'Love,  and  be  friends,  as  two  such  men  should  be  ; 
For  I  have  seen  more  years,  I  am  sure,  than  ye. 
Cas.  Ha,  ha  !  how  vilely  dotli  this  cynic  rhyme  1 
Bru.    Get    you    hence,     sirrah  :    saucy    fellow, 

hence  ! 
Cas.  Bear  with  him,  Brutus  ;  'tis  his  fashion. 
Br^.  I'll  know  his  humour,  when  he  knows  hie 
time  : 
What    should    the    wars    do    with    these  jigging 

fools  ?— 
Companion,  hence  ! 

Cas.  Away,  away,  be  gone  !  \^Exit  Poet. 

Bru.  Lucilius  and  Titinius,  bid  the  commanders 
Prepare  to  lodge  their  companies  to-night. 

Gas.   And  come  yourselves,  and    bring   ]Messah\ 
with  you, 
Immediately  to  us. 

[Exetint  Lucilius  and  Titinius. 
Bru.  Lucius,  a  bowl  of  wine. 

[Exit  Lucius, 


3.]  JULIUS   C^SAE.  133 

Gaa,    1  did  not  think  you  could  have  been   to 

angry. 
Bru.  0  Cassius,  I  am  sick  of  many  griefs. 
Cow.   Of  your  philosophy  you  make  no  use, 
[f  you  give  place  to  accidental  evils. 
Bru.  No  man  bears  sorrow  better : — Portia  Ib 

dead. 
Co*.  Hal     Portia  1 
Bru.  She  is  dead. 

Ca8.  How  'scaped  I  killing  when  I  crossed  you 
sol — 
O  insupportable  and  touching  loss  I — 
Upon  what  sickness  % 

Bru.  Impatient  of  my  absence, 

And  grief,  that  young  Octavius  with  Mark  Antony 
Have  made  themselves  so   strong; — for  with  her 

death 
That  tidings  came  ;— with  this  she  fell  distract, 
And,  her  attendants  absent,  swallowed  fire. 
Cos.  And  died  so  1 
Bru.  Even  so. 

Cos.  0  ye  immortal  gods  I 

Re-enter  Lucius  with  wine  and  tapers. 
Bru.  Speak  no  more  of  her. — Give  me  a  bowl  <A 
wine, — 
In  this  I  bury  all  unkindness,  Cas'=;ius.        [Drinks. 


1S4  JULIUS   CESAR.  [Act  IV. 

Cas.   My  heart  U  thirsty  for  that  noble  pledge. — 
Fill,  Lucius,  till  the  wine  o'erswell  the  cup ; 
T  cannot  drink  too  much  of  Brutus'  love.    [Drinks. 

Brv„  Come  in,  Titinius.  \Exit  Lucius. 

Re-enter  Titixius,  witli  Messala. 

Welcome,  good  Messala. — 
Now  sit  we  close  about  this  taper  here, 
And  call  in  question  our  necessities. — 

Cas.  Portia,  art  thou  gone  1 

Bru.  No  more,  I  pray  you.— 

Messala,  I  have  here  received  letters, 
That  young  Octavius  and  Mark  Antony 
Come  down  upon  us  with  a  mighty  power, 
Bending  theii-  expedition  toward  Philippi. 

Me-s.  Myself  have  letters  of  the  selfsame  tenor. 

Bru.  With  what  addition  ? 

Mes.  That  by  proscription,  and  bills  of  outUiwry* 
Octa%'ius,  Antony,  and  Lepidus 
Have  put  to  death  an  hundred  senators. 

Bru.   Therein  our  letters  do  not  well  agree  J 
Mine  speak  of  seventy  senators,  that  died 
By  their  proscrijitions,  Cicero  being  one. 

Cos.-  Cicero  one  % 

Mes.  Cicero  is  dead, 

And  by  that  order  of  proscription.^ 


3J  JTJIilUS   C^SAB.  135 

Had  you  your  letters  from  your  wife,  my  lord  ! 

Bru.  No,  Messala. 

Mea.  Nor  nothing  in  your  letters  writ  of  her  f 

Bru.  Nothing,  Messala. 

Mes.  That,  methinks,  is  strange. 

Brvu  Why  ask  you  1     Hear  you  aught  of  her  in 
yours  1 

Mea.  No,  my  lord. 

Bru.  Now,  as  you  are  a  Roman,  tell  me  true. 

Mea.  Then  like  a  Roman  bear  the  truth  I  tell : 
For  certain  she  is  dead,  and  by  strange  manner. 

Bru.    Why,    farewell,    Portia. — We   must   die, 
Messala  : 

With  meditating  that  she  must  die  once, 
I  have  the  patience  to  endure  it  now. 

Mea.   Even   so   great   men   great   losses   should 
endure. 

Cos.  I  have  as  much  of  this  in  art  as  you, 
But  yet  my  nature  could  not  bear  it  so. 

Bru.  Well,    to  our  work  alive. — What  do  you 
think 
Of  marching  to  Philippi  presently  1 

Caa.  I  do  not  think  it  good. 

Bru.  Your  reason  f 

Caa.  Thia  it  is  >— 

*T  is  better  that  the  enemy  seek  us  : 


136  JULIUS    CMZAB,  [Act  IV. 

80  shall  he  waste  hU  means,  veaiy  his  soldiers, 
Doing  himself  offence  ;  whilst  we,  lying  still, 
Are  full  of  rest,  defence,  and  nimblenesa 

BrtL  Good  reasons  must,  of  force,  give  place  60 
better. 
The  people  'twixt  Philippi  and  this  ground 
Do  stand  but  in  a  forced  affection ; 
For  they  harve  grudged  us  contribution  : 
The  enemy,  marching  along  by  them. 
By  them  shall  make  a  fuller  number  up, 
Come  on  refreshed,  new-added,  and  encouraged : 
From  which  advantage  shall  we  cut  him  off^ 
If  at  Philippi  we  do  face  him  there, 
These  people  at  our  back. — 

Cog.  Hear  me,  good  brother. 

Bru,  XJndei  your  pardon. — You  must  note  bea^ 
That  we  have  tried  the  utmost  of  our  friends, 
Our  legions  are  brim-full,  our  cause  io  ripe : 
The  enemy  increaseth  every  day ; 
We,  at  the  height,  are  ready  to  decline. 
There  is  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men, 
Which,  taken  at  the  flood,  leads  on  to  fortuno; 
Omitted,  all  the  voyage  of  their  life 
Ifl  bound  in  shallows  and  in  miseriea 
On  such  a  full  sea  are  we  now  afloat ; 
And  we  must  take  tlie  current  when  »*.  serves, 


Soenea]  JUUTTS  CJ&8AB.  137 

Or  lose  oar  ventures. 

Coi.  Then,  with  your  will,  go  on  : 

We  *11  along  ourselves,  and  meet  them  at  Phiiippi. 

BriL  The  deep  of  night  is  crept  upon"  our  talk, 
And  nature  must  obey  necessity  ; 
Which  we  will  niggard  with  a  little  rest. 
There  is  no  more  to  say  ] 

Ca9,  No  more.     Good  night : 

Early  to-morrow  will  we  rise,  and  hence. 

Bru,  Lucius  !     \^Re-enter  Lucius.] — My   gown. 
[Exit  Lucius.] — Farewell,  good  Messala  : — 
'>ood  night,  Titinius. — Noble,  noble  Cassius, 
Good  night,  and  good  repose. 

Cm.  O  my  dear  brother  ! 

This  was  an  ill  beginning  of  the  night : 
Never  come  such  division  'tween  our  souls  I 
Let  it  not,  Brutua 

Brtk.  Everything  is  welL 

Cos.  Good  night,  my  lord. 

Brtu  Good  night,  good  brother. 

Tit,y  Mea.  Good  night.  Lord  Brutus. 

j5ru.  Farewell,  every  ona. 

[Exeunt  Cassius,  Titinius,  and  Messala, 

Re-enter  Lucius,  with  the  goum. 
Give  me  the  gown.     Where  is  thy  instrument t 


188  JTJHU8    C^SAB.  [Act  IV. 

Luc.  Here  in  the  tent. 

Bru.  What,  thou  speak 'st  drowsily  I 

Poor    knave,    I    blame    thee   not ;  thou  4rt   o'er- 

watched. 
Call  Claudius,  and  some  other  of  my  men  ; 
I  '11  have  them  sleep  on  cushions  in  my  tent 

Lva:.  Yarro,  and  Claudius ! 

Enter  Varro  and  Claudius. 
Var.  Calls  my  lord  ? 

Bru.  I  pray  you,  sii-s,  lie  in  my  tent  and  sleep : 
It  may  be,  I  shall  raise  you  by-and-by 
On  business  to  my  brother  Cassius. 

Var.  So  please  you,  we  will  stand   and  watch 

your  pleasure. 
Bru.   I  will  not  have  it  so  ;  lie  down,  good  oirs  : 
It  may  be,  I  shall  otherwise  bethink  me. — 
Look,  Lucius,  here  's  the  book  I  sought  for  so ; 
I  put  it  in  the  pocket  of  my  gown. 

[Varro  and  Claudius  lie  down. 
lAUi,  I  was  sure  your  lordship  did  not  give   it 

me. 
Bru.  Bear  with  me,  good  boy,  I  am  much   for- 
getful 
Canst  thou  hold  up  tliy  heavy  eyes  awhile, 
Ajid  touch  thy  instrument  a  strain  or  two! 


6c8ne3.]  JT7IJUS   C^SAJL  139 

Lws.  Ay,  my  lord,  an 't  please  you. 

Bru.  ^  It  does,  my  boy : 

I  trouble  thee  too  much,  but  thou  art  willing. 

Ltic.  It  is  my  duty,  sir. 

Bru.  1  should  not  urge  thy  duty  past  thy  might; 
1  know  young  bloods  look  for  a  time  of  rest 

Luc.  I  have  slept,  my  lord,  already. 

Bru.  It  was  well  done;    and  thou   shalt  sleep 
again ; 
I  will  not  hold  thee  long  :  if  I  do  live, 
I  will  be  good  to  thea  [MusiCy  and  a>  Song. 

This  is  a  sleepy  tune  : — 0  murderous  slumber, 
Lay'st  thou  thy  leaden  mace  upon  my  boy, 
That  plays  thee  music  '\ — Gentle  knave,  good  night ; 
I  will  not  do  thee  so  much  wrong  to  wake  thee  ; 
If  thou  dost  nod,  thou  break'st  thy  instrument ; 
I  '11    take   it   from    thee ;    and,    good    boy,    good 

night. — 
Let  me  see,  let  me  see : — is  not  the  leaf  turned  down 
Where  I  left  reading  1     Here  it  is,  I  think. 

[He  sits  down. 

Enter  the  Ghost  of  CiBSAR. 
How  ill  this  taper  bums  1 — Ha !    who  comes  here  \ 
I  think,  it  is  the  weakness  of  mine  eyes 
That  shapes  this  monstrous  apparition. 


140  JUIJLUS    C^SAR.  [Act  IV, 

It  comes  upon  me. — Art  thou  anything! 
Art  thou  some  god,  some  angel,  or  some  devil, 
That  mak'st  my  blood  cold,  and  my  hair  to  stare  1 
Speak  to  me,  what  thou  art 

Ghost.  Thy  evil  spirit,  Brutus. 

Btii.  Why  com'st  thou  1 

Ghost.     To    tell    thee,    thou    shalt    see   me   at 
Philippi. 

Bru.  Well, 
Then  I  shall  see  thee  again  1 

Ghost.  Ay,  at  PhilippL 

Bru.  Why,  I  will  see  thee  at  Philippi,  then. — 

[Ghost  vani8Jie9, 
Now  I  have  taken  heart,  thou  vanishest : 
Dl  spirit,  I  would  hold  more  talk  with  thee. — 
Boy,  Lucius  ! — Yarro  !     Claudius!     sirs,  awake  I — 
Claudius  ! 

Luc.  The  strings,  my  lord,  are  false. 

Bru.  He  thinks  he  still  is  at  his  instrument. — 
Lucius,  awake ! 

Luc.  My  lord! 

Bru.    Didst  thou  dream,   Lucius,  that  thou  so 
criedst  out  1 

Iaac.  My  lord,  I  do  not  know  that  I  did  cry. 

Bru.  Yes,  that  thou  didst     Didst  thou  see  any- 
thing 1 


&]  JTJIilTJS    CJESAJt.  141 

L%te,  Nothing,  my  lord. 

Bru.  Sleep  again,  Lucius. — Sirrah,  OlaudiosI 
[To  Varro.]  Pellow  thou  1  awake  I 

Var.  My  lord  1 

Clav.  My  lord  1 

Bru.  Why  did  you  so  cry  out,   sirs,    in   youi 
sleep  1 

Var.f  Clau.  Did  we,  my  lord  ? 

Bru,  Ay  :  saw  you  anything  1 

Var.  No,  my  lord,  I  saw  nothing. 

Cldu.  Nor  I,  my  lord. 

Bru.    Go,    and    commend    me   to    my   brother 
Cassius  : 
Bid  him  set  on  his  powers  betimes  before, 
And  we  will  follow. 

Tor.,  Clau.  It  shall  be  done,  my  lord. 

[ExetmL 


ACT    V. 

Scene  L— The  Plains  of  Philippi 
Enier  Octavius,  Antony,  and  their  Armjf, 

Oct.  Now,  Antony,  our  hopes  are  answered : 
Fou  said,  the  enemy  would  not  come  down. 


142  JULIUS    C^SAB.  [AotV. 

But  keep  the  hills  and  upper  regions ; 
It  proves  not  so  :  their  battles  are  at  hand  j 
They  mean  to  warn  us  at  Philippi  here, 
Answering  before  we  do  demand  of  them. 

AnL  Tut,  I  am  in  their  bosoms,  and  I  know 
Wherefore  they  do  it  :  they  could  be  content 
To  visit  other  places  ;  and  come  down 
With  fearful  bravery,  thinking  by  this  face 
To  fasten  in  our  thoughts  that  they  have  courage  : 
But  't  is  not  so. 

Enter  a  Messenger, 
Mess.  Prepare  you,  generals, 

The  enemy  comes  on  in  gallant  show ; 

Their  bloody  sign  of  battle  is  hung  outi 

And  something  to  be  done  immediately. 
AnL   Octavius,  lead  your  battle  softly  on 

Upon  the  left  hand  of  the  even  field. 

Oct.  Upon  the  right  hand  I;  keep  thou  the  left 
Ant.  Why  do  you  cross  me  in  this  exigent  1 
Oct  I  do  not  cross  you  ;  but  I  will  do  so. 

[xl/arcA. 

Drum.     Enter  Brutus,  Cassius,  and  their  Army  ; 
LuciLius,  TiTiNius,  Messala,  and  others. 
jBru.  They  stand,  and  would  have  parley. 


Scene  L]  JULIUS   C^SAR.  143 

Cos.  Stand  fast,  Titinius  :  we  must  out  and  talk. 

Oct.  Mark  Antony,  shall  we  give  sign  of  battle  ? 

Ant.  No,  Caesar,  we  will  answer  on  their  charge. 
Make  forth  ;  the  generals  would  have  some  words. 

Oct.  Stir  not  until  the  signal. 

Bru.  Words  before  blows:  is  it  so,  conntrymenl 

Oct.  Kot  that  we  love  words  better,  as  you  do. 

Bru.  Good  words  are  better  than  bad  strokes, 
Octavius, 

Ant.   In  your  bad  strokes,  Brutus,  you  give  good 
words  : 
Witness  the  hole  you  made  in  Cassar's  heart, 
Crying,  "  Long  live  !  hail,  Caesar  !  " 

Gas.  Antony, 

The  posture  of  your  blows  are  yet  unknown ; 
But  for  your  words,  they  rob  the  Hybla  bees 
And  leave  them  honeyless. 

Ant  Not  stingless  too. 

Bru.  0,  yes,  and  soundless  too  ; 
For  you  have  stol'n  their  buzzing,  Antony, 
And  very  wisely  threat  before  you  sting. 

Ant.  Villains,  you  did  not  so,  when  your  vile 
daggers 
Hacked  one  another  in  the  sides  of  Caesar  : 
Vou  showed  your  teeth  like  apes,  and  fawned  like 
hounds. 


144  JULIUS  cj:sar.  [Aotv. 

And  bowed  like  bondmen,  kissing  Csesar's  feeij 
Whilst  damndd  Casca,  like  a  cur,  behind, 
Struck  Caesar  on  the  neck.     0,  flatterers  1 

Cos.    Flatterers  I — Now,    Brutus,    thank    your- 
self : 
This  tongue  had  not  offended  so  to-day, 
If  Cassius  might  have  ruled. 

Oct.  Come,  come,  the  cause  :  if  arguing  make 
us  sweat, 
The  proof  of  it  will  turn  to  redder  drops. 
Look, — 

I  draw  a  sword  against  conspirators  : 
When  think  you  that  the  sword  goes  up  again  1 
Never,  till  Csesar's  three-and -thirty  wounds 
Be  well  avenged  ;  or  till  another  Caesar 
Have  added  slaughter  to  the  sword  of  traitors. 

Bru.    Csesar,   thou   canst    not   die    by    traitors^' 
hands, 
Unless  thou  bring'st  them  with  thee. 

Oct.  So  I  hope. 

I  was  not  bom  to  die  on  Brutus'  sword. 

Bru.  0,  if  thou  wert  the  noblest  of  thy  strain. 
Young  man,  thou  couldst  not  die  more  honourable. 

Cos.     A  peevish   school-boy,   worthless  of  suob 
honour. 
Joined  with  a  masker  and  a  reveller. 


Soenel.]  JTTLrCTS    CSISAR.  145 

Ant  Old  Casaius  still  1 

Oct.  Come,  Antony  ;  away  [— 

Defiance,  traitors,  hurl  we  in  your  teeth. 
If  you  dare  figlit  to-day,  come  to  the  field  ; 
If  not,  when  you  have  stomachs. 

[Exeunt  OcfTAVius,  Antony,  and  their  Army. 

Cos.    Why  now,  blow  wind,   swell  billow,  and 
swim  bark  ! 
The  storm  is  up,  and  all  is  on  the  hazard. 

Bru.  Ho! 
Lucilius,  hark,  a  word  with  you. 

Lucil.  My  lord  1 — 

[Brutus  and  Lucilius  talk  apart 

Cos.  Messala, 

Mes.  What  says  my  general  ? 

Cos,  Messalaj 

rhis  is  my  birthday ;  as  this  very  day 
Was  Cassius  bom.     Give  me  thy  hand,  Messala: 
Be  thou  my  witness,  that  against  my  will, 
As  Pompey  was,  am  I  compelled  to  set 
Upon  one  battle  all  our  liberties. 
You  know  that  I  held  Epicurus  strong, 
And  his  opinion  :  now,  I  change  my  mind, 
And  partly  credit  things  that  do  presage. 
Coming  from  Sardis,  on  our  former  ensign 
Two  mighty  eagles  fell ;  .and  there  they  perched, 


140  JTTLIUa   CiESAB.  [Act  V. 

Gorging  and  feeding  from  our  soldiers'  handi ; 

Who  to  Philippi  here  consorted  us  : 

This  morning  are  they  fled  away  and  gone, 

A_nd  in  their  steads  do  ravens,  crows,  and  kitea, 

Fly  o'er  our  heads,  and  do\vnward  look  on  us, 

As  we  were  sickly  prey ;  their  shadows  seem 

A  canopy  most  fatal,  under  which 

Our  army  lies,  ready  to  give  up  the  ghost 

Mes.   Believe  not  so. 

Cos.  I  but  believe  it  psirtly ; 

For  I  am  fresh  of  spirit,  and  resolved 
To  meet  all  perils  very  constantly. — 

Bru.   Even  so,  Lucilius. — 

(7(M.  Now,  most  noble  Bnitoi, 

The  gods  to-day  stand  friendly,  that  we  may, 
Lovers  in  peace,  lead  on  our  days  to  age  ! 
But  since  the  aflairs  of  men  rest  still  Lacertain, 
Let 's  reason  with  the  worst  that  may  befall : 
If  we  do  lose  this  battle,  then  is  this 
Tbe  very  last  time  we  shall  speak  together  • 
What,  are  you  then  determined  to  do  ? 

Bru.  Even  by  the  rule  of  that  philosophy 
By  which  I  did  blame  Cato  for  the  death 
Which  he  did  give  liimself  : — I  know  not  how 
But  I  do  find  it  cowardly  and  vile. 
For  fear  of  what  might  fall,  so  to  prevent 


Scene  1.]  JULIUS   C^SAR.  147 

The  time  of  life  : — arming  myself  with  patience 
To  stay  the  providence  of  some  high  powers 
That  govern  us  below. 

Cos.  Then,  if  we  lose  this  battle. 

You  are  contented  to  be  led  in  triumph 
Thorough  the  streets  of  Rome  ? 

Brii.  No,  Cassius,   no.     Think  not,  thou  noble 
Roman, 
That  ever  Brutus  will  go  bound  to  Rome ; 
Elr  bears  too  great  a  mind.     But  this  same  day 
Must  end  that  work  the  ides  of  March  begun ; 
And,  whether  we  shall  meet  again,  I  know  not. 
Tlierefore,  our  everlasting  farewell  take  : — 
For  ever,  and  for  ever,  farewell,  Cassius  ! 
If  we  do  meet  again,  why,  we  shall  smile  ; 
If  not,  why  then,  this  parting  was  well  made. 

Gas.  For  ever,  and  for  ever,  farewell,  Brutus ! 
If  we  do  meet  again,  we  '11  smile  indeed  j 
If  not,  't  is  true,  this  [)arting  was  well  made. 

Bru.   Why  then,  lead  on. — O,  tliat  a  man  might 
know 
The  end  of  this  day's  business,  ere  it  come  ! 
But  it  sufficeth,  that  the  day  will  end. 
And  then  the  end  is  known. — Come_,  ho  !  away  ! 

\Exeunt, 


148  JULIUB   CJBSAI^  [AfltV, 

SciNB  II— Plains  of  Philippl     The  Field  of 
Battle. 

Alarum.     Enter  Brutus  and  Mess  at.  a. 
Bru.  Ride,  ride,  Messala,  ride,  and  give  these 
bills 
Unto  the  legions  on  the  other  side. 

[Lotid  AUrwrn. 
Let  them  set  on  at  once ;  for  I  perceive 
But  cold  demeanour  in  Octavius'  wing, 
And  sudden  push  gives  them  the  overthrow. 
Ride,  ride,  Messala  :  let  them  all  come  down. 

[Exetmi, 


6cE37E  IIL — Another  Part  of  the  Field. 
Alarum.     Enter  Cassids  and  Titinius. 

Cos.  O,  look,  Titinius,  look,  the  villains  flj  \ — 
Myself  have  to  mine  own  turned  enemy  : 
Tliis  ensign  here  of  mine  was  turning  back ; 
I  slew  the  coward,  and  did  take  it  from  him. 

Tit.  O  Cassius,  Brutus  gave  the  word  too  early ; 
Who,  having  some  advantage  on  Octavius, 
Took  it  too  eagerly  :  his  soldiers  fell  to  spoil, 
Whilst  we  by  Antony  are  all  enclosed. 


8.3  JULIUS  cacsAB.  119 


Enter  PiNDARua 

Pin,  Fly  further  off,  my  lord,  fly  fui-ther  off; 
Mark  Antony  is  in  your  tents,  my  lord  ! 
Fly,  therefore,  noble  Cassius,  fiy  far  ofil 

Cas.  This    hill    is    far    enough.       Look,    look, 
Titinius ; 
Are  those  my  tents  where  I  perceive  the  firel 

Tit.  They  are,  my  lord. 

Cas.  Titinius,  if  thou  lov'st  me, 

Mount  thou  my  horse,  and  hide  thy  spurs  in  him, 
Till  he  have  brought  thee  up  to  yonder  troops, 
And  here  again ;  that  I  may  rest  assured, 
Whether  yond  troops  are  friend  or  enemy. 

Tii.  I  will  be  here  again,  even  with  a  thought 

[ExU, 

Gas.  Go,  Pindanis,  get  higher  on  that  hill ; 
My  sight  was  ever  thick  ;  regard  Titinius, 
And  tell  me  what  thou  not'st  about  the  field- — 

[Exit  PiNDARUa 
This  day  I  breath6d  first :  time  is  come  round, 
And  where  I  did  begin,  there  shall  I  end  ; 
My  life  has  run  his  compass. — Sirrah,  what  nei^  5 

i*fn.  [^6ortf.]  O  my  lord  1 

(7«M.  What  news  I 

Pin.  Titinius  is  encios<^  round  aboat 


160  JULIUS    GiESAE.  [Act  V. 

With  horsemen,  that  make  to  him  on  the  spur ; 

Yet  he  spurs  on  : — now  they  are  almost  on  hizai 

Now,  Titinius  ! — now 

Some  light : — O,  he  lights  too  :— 

He's  ta'en  :  [ShouL]  and,  hark  I 

They  shout  for  joy. 

Cas.  Come  down  ;  behold  no  mora — 

O,  coward  that  I  am,  to  live  so  long, 
To  see  my  best  friend  ta'en  before  my  £aoe  t 

Re-enter  Pindarub. 
Come  hither,  sirrali. 
In  Parthia  did  I  take  thee  prisoner; 
And  then  I  swore  thee,  saving  of  thy  life, 
That  whatsoever  I  did  bid  thee  do, 
Thou  shouldst  attempt  it.     Come  now,  keeg^  thine 

oath  : 
Now  be  a  freeman  ;  and  with  this  good  sword, 
That  ran    through    Caesar's    bowels,    search    this 

bosom. 
Stand  not  to  answer  :  here,  take  thou  the  hilts ; 
And.  when  my  face  is  covered,  as  't  is  now, 
Guide  thou  the  sword. — Caesar,  thou  art  revenged, 
Even  with  the  sword  that  killed  thee.  [Dies. 

Pin.  So,  I  am  free  ;  yet  would  not  so  have  been. 
Durst  I  have  done  my  wilL      O  Cassias  I 


Scene  3.]  JTJMUS   CJS8AR.  151 

Far  from  this  country  Pindarus  shall  run, 
Where  never  Roman  shall  take  note  of  him. 

[BxU 

Re-enter  Titinius,  with  Messala, 

Mes.  It  is  but  change,  Titmius  ;  for  Octavius 
Is  overthrown  by  noble  Brutus'  power, 
As  Cassius'  legions  are  by  Antony. 

Tit.  These  tidings  will  well  comfort  Cassiua. 

Me$.  Where  did  you  leave  him  1 

Tit.  All  disconsolate, 

With  Pindarus,  his  bondman,  on  this  hilL 

Mes.  Is  not  that  he,  that  lies  upon  the  ground  f 

Tit  He  lies  not  like  the  living.     0  my  heart ! 

Mes.  Is  not  that  he  1 

Tit.  No,  this  was  he,  Messala, 

But  Cassius  is  no  more, — O  setting  sun. 
As  in  thy  red  rays  thou  dost  sink  to  nighty 
So  in  his  red  blood  Cassius'  day  is  set, — 
The  sun  of  Rome  is  set.     Our  day  is  gone  ; 
Clouds,  dews,  and  dangers   come ;  our   deeds  are 

done  I 
Mistmst  of  my  success  bath  done  this  deed. 

Mes,  Mistrust  of  good  success   hath    done  this 
deed. 
O  hateful  error,  melancholy's  childj 


l'^-  JUTilUS    C^SAR.  [ActV. 

Why  dost  tbou  show  to  the  apt  thoughts  of  men 
The  things  that  are  not  1     O  error,  soon  conceived, 
Thou  never  com'st  unto  a  happy  birth, 
But  kill'st  the  mother  that  engendered  thee  1 

Tit.  What,  Pindarus  !      Where  art  thou,   Pin- 
darus  ? 

Mes.  Seek  him,  Titinius,  whilst  I  go  to  meet 
The  noble  Brutus,  thrusting  this  report 
Into  his  ears  :  I  may  say,  thrusting  it ; 
For  piercing  steel,  and  darts  envenomed, 
Shall  be  as  welcome  to  the  ears  of  Brutus, 
As  tidings  of  this  sight. 

Tit.  Hie  yon,  Messala, 

And  I  will  seek  for  Pindarus  the  while. 

[Exit  Mess  ALA. 
Why  didst  thou  send  me  forth,  brave  Cassius  i 
Did  I  not  meet  thy  friends?  and  did  not  they 
Put  on  my  brows  this  wreath  of  victory, 
And  bid  me  give  it  theel     Didst  thou  not  heaz 

their  shouts  'i 
Alas  1  thou  hast  misconstrued  everything. 
But  hold  thee,  take  this  garland  on  thy  brow ; 
Thy  Brutus  bid  me  give  it  thee,  and  I 
Will  do  his  bidding. — Brutus,  come  apace, 
And  see  how  I  regarded  Caius  Cassius. — 
By  your  leave,  gods  : — this  is  a  Roman's  pari : 


3.]  jrrxjus  CMSAM.  153 

dome,  Cassius'  sword,  and  find  Titinius'  heart. 

[Dies. 

Alarum.     He-enter  Messala,  ivith  Brutus,  Young 
Cato,  Strato,  Yolumnius,  and  LuciLius. 

Bru.  Where,  where,  Messala,  doth  his  body  lie  f 

Mes.  Lo,  yonder  ;  and  Titinius  mourning  it. 

Bnu  Titinius'  face  is  upward. 

Cato.  He  is  slaio. 

Bru.  O  Julius  Caesar,  thou  art  mighty  yet  I 
Tliy  spirit  walks  abroad,  and  turns  our  sworda 
In  our  own  proper  entrails.  [Low  alarums. 

Cato.  Brave  Titinius  ! 

Look,  whe'r  he  have  not  crowned  dead  Cassius  I 

Bru.  Are    yet    two    Romans    living    such    as 
these  1 — 
The  last  of  all  the  Romans,  fare  thee  well  I 
It  is  impossible  that  ever  Rome 
Should  breed   thy   fellow. — Friends,   I  owe  mort 

tears 
To  this  dead  man  than  you  shall  see  me  pay. — 
I  shall  find  time,  Cassius,  I  shall  find  time. — 
Come,  therefore,  and  to  Thassos  send  his  body : 
His  funerals  shall  not  be  in  our  camp, 
Lest  it  discomfort  us. — Lucilius,  come  ; — 
And  come,  young  Cato ; — let  us  to  the  field.—' 


154  JTTTJXrS   C^SAB.  tActV 

Labeo,  and  Flavius,  set  our  battles  on  :— 

T  is  three  o'clock  ;  and,  Romans,  yet  ere  night 

We  ah&U  tiy  fortune  in  &  second  fight.        [JExsttnL 


SoEKK  rV. — Another  Part  of  the  Field. 

Alarwm.     Enter y  fighting^  Soldiers  of  both  Armies  ; 
then  Brutus,  Young  Oato,  Lucilius,  and  others. 

Bru,  Yet,    countrymen,    0,    yet  hold    up   your 

heads. 
CcUo,  What   bastard    doth  not?     Who  will  go 
with  me  1 
I  will  proclaim  my  name  about  the  jfield  : — 
I  Am  the  son  of  Marcus  Cato,  ho ! 
A  foe  to  tyrants,  and  my  country's  friend ; 
I  am  the  son  of  Marcus  Cato,  ho  ! 

[Charges  tJce  enemy. 
Bra.  And  I  am  Brutus,  Marcus  Brutus,  I ; 
BrutuA,  my  country's  friend  ;  know  me  for  BrutuB. 
[Exity  charging  t/ie  enemy.     Cato  is  over- 
powered^ and  falls. 
Lucil.  O  young  and  noble  Cato,  art  thou  down  1 
Why,  now  thou  diest  as  bravely  as  Titinius, 
And  ma/st  be  honoured,  being  Cato's  soil 


Scene 4.]  JULIUS   C^SAR.  165 

1  Sold.  Yield,  or  tliou  diest. 

Lucil.  Only  I  yield  to  die  : 

There  is  so  much  that  thou  Avilt  kill  me  straight ; 

[Offering  money. 
Kill  Brutus,  and  be  honoured  in  his  death. 

1  Sold.  We  must  not. — A  noLle  prisoner  ! 

2  Sold.  Room,    ho !     Tell   Antony,    Brutus    is 

ta'en. 
1  Sold.  I  '11    tell    the   news. — Here    comes    the 
general.  — 

Enter  Antony. 
Brutus  is  ta'en,  Brutus  is  ta'en,  my  lord. 

Ant.   Where  is  he  1 

Lucil.  Safe,  Antony  ;  Brutus  is  safe  enough, 
I  dare  assure  thee,  that  no  enemy 
Shall  ever  take  alive  the  noble  Brutus : 
The  gods  defend  him  from  so  great  a  shame ! 
When  you  do  find  him,  or  alive  or  dead, 
He  will  be  found  like  Brutus,  like  himself. 

Ant.  This  is  not  Brutus,   friend ;  but,  I  assure 

you, 

A  prize  no  less  in  worth.      Keep  t]iis  man  safe  ; 
Give  him  all  kindness  :  I  had  rather  have 
Such  men  my  friends,  than  enemies.      Go  on, 
And  see  whe'r  Brutus  be  alive,  or  dead  j 


156  JULIUS   CJESAR.  CActY. 

And  bring  ns  word,  nnto  Octaviua '  tent^ 

How  everything  ia  chanced.  [ExeuKt. 


Scene  V. — Another  Part  of  the  Field. 
Enter  Buutus,  Dardanjus,  Olitus,  Strato,  and 

YOLUMNIUS, 

BrtL  Come,  poor  remains  of  friends,  rest  on  this 

rock. 
Cli.  Statilius  showed  the  torch-light ;  but^  my 
lord, 
He  came  not  back  :  he  is  or  ta'en  or  slain. 

Bru.  Sit  thee  down,  Clitus  :  slaying  is  the  word  ; 
It  is  a  deed  in  fashion.      Hark  thee,  Clitus. 

[Whuperin^. 
Cli.  What,   I,   my   lord  1     No,   not  for  all   the 

world. 
Bru.  Peace,  then,  no  words. 
Cli  1 11  rather  kill  myself. 

Bru.  Hark  thee,  Dardanius.         [  Wiispers  him,. 
Bar.  Shall  I  do  such  a  deed  \ 

Cli.  O  Dardanius  1 
Dar.   O  Clitus  ! 
Cli.   What  ill  rf'quest  did  Brutus  make  to  thee  ? 


Scenes.]  JULIUS  C^SAE.  157 

Dar.  To  kill  him,  Clitus.     Look,  he  meditates. 

Cli.  Now  is  that  noble  vessel  full  of  grief, 
That  it  runs  over  even  at  his  eyes. 

Bru.  Come    hither,    good    Yolumnius :     list   a 
word. 

Vol.  What  says  my  lord  1 

Bru.  Why,  this,  Yolumnius  : 

The  ghost  of  Csesar  hath  appeared  to  me 
Two  several  times  by  night, — at  Sardis  once, 
And,  this  last  night,  here  in  Philippi  fields : 
I  know  my  hour  is  come. 

Vol.  Not  so,  my  lord. 

Bru.  Nay,  I  am  sure  it  is,  Yolumnius. 
Thou  seest  the  world,  Yolumnius,  how  it  goes ; 
Our  enemies  have  beat  us  to  the  pit : 

\_Low  Alarums, 
It  IS  more  worthy  to  leap  in  ourselves, 
Than  tarry  till  they  push  us.     Good  Yolumnius, 
Thou   know'st   that   we  two   went   to    school    to- 
gether ; 
Even  for  that  our  love  of  old,  I  pray  thee, 
Hold  thou  my  sword-hilts,  whilst  I  riui  on  it. 

Vol.  That 's  not  an  office  for  a  friend,  my  lord. 

[Alarum  still. 

Cli.  Fly,    fly,    my   lord !    there   is   no  tarrying 
here. 


158  JULIUB   CJRKkJR,.  tAcjfcV. 

BriL  Farewell   to   you ; — and   yon ; — and   you, 

Yolumniua. — 
Strato,  thou  hast  V^een  all  this  while  asleep; 
Farewell  to  thee  too,  Strato. — Countrymei^ 
My  heart  doth  joy,  that  yet  in  all  my  life 
I  found  no  man,  but  he  was  true  to  ma. 
I  shall  have  glory  by  this  losing  day, 
More  than  Octavius  and  Mark  ^ntony 
By  this  vile  conquest  shall  attain  unta 
So,  fare  you  well  at  once  ;  for  Brutus'  tongne 
Hath  almost  ended  liis  life's  history. 
Night  hangs  upon  mine  eyes  ;  my  bones  would  rest, 
That  have  but  laboured  to  attain  this  hour. 

[A larum.     Cry  toithin,  "  Fly,  Jly,  Jiy  I" 

Cli.  Fly,  my  lord,  fly  ! 

Bm.  Hence  !  I  will  follow. 

[Exeitnt  Clitus,  Daedanius,  ajid  VoLUMNiua 
I  pr'ythee,  Strato,  stay  thou  by  thy  lord. 
Thou  art  a  fellow  of  a  good  respect ; 
Thy  life  hath  had  some  smatch  of  honour  in  it : 
Hold  then  my  sword,  and  turn  away  thy  face, 
While  I  do  run  upon  it     Wilt  thou,  Strato  1 

Stra,  Give  me  your  hand  first :  fare  you  well, 
my  lord. 

Bru.  Farewell,   good   Strata — Cseaar,   aow    be 
still: 


5.1  JULIUS   C^SAB.  159 

I  killed  not  thee  with  half  so  good  a  wilL 

[He  runs  on  his  swords  and  diet. 

Alarum:  Retreat.     Enter  Octavius,  Antony, 
Messala,  Lucilius,  and  their  Army. 

Oct.  What  man  is  that  1 

Mei.  My  master's    man. — Strato,  where  is  thy 

master  1 
Stra.  Free    from     the    bondage    you    are    in. 


The  conquerors  can  but  make  a  fire  of  him  ; 

J^or  Brutus  only  overcame  himself, 

Knd  no  man  else  hath  honour  by  his  death. 

Lucil.  So   Brutus   should   be   found, — I   thank 
thee,  Brutus, 
Tiiat  thou  hast  proved  Lucilius'  saying  true. 

Oct,  All   that  served   Brutus,  I  will  entertain 
them. 
Fellow,  wilt  thou  bestow  thy  time  with  me  1 

Stra.  Ay ;  if  Messala  will  prefer  me  to  yoo. 

Oct.  Do  so,  good  Messala. 

Mei.  How  died  my  master,  Strato  1 

Stra.  I  held  the  sword,  and  he  did  run  on  H, 

Mes.  Octavius,  then  take  him  to  follow  thee^ 
That  did  the  latest  service  to  my  master. 


160  JULIUS   CMBAR.  (Act  V. 

AnL  This  was  the  noblest  Roman  of  them  all : 
All  the  conspirators,  save  only  he, 
Did  that  they  did  in  envy  of  great  Caesar ; 
He  only,  in  a  general  honest  thought 
And  common  good  to  all,  made  one  of  thenk 
His  life  was  gentle  ;  an^  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  np 
And  say  to  all  the  world,  '  This  was  a  man  I ' 

Oct.  According  to  his  virtue  let  us  use  him, 
With  all  respect,  and  rites  of  burial 
Within  my  tent  his  bones  to-night  shall  lie, 
Most  liks  a  soldier,  ordered  honourably. — 
Bo,  caII  the  field  to  rest :  and  let 's  away. 
To  part  the  glories  of  this  happy  day.         [Masuni 


ILLUSTEATTYE  PASSAGES 


:WRTH'S  TRAi^SLATION  OF  PLUTARCH. 


rLLUSTKATIYlB  PASSAGES 


NORTH'S  TRANSLATION  OF  PLUTARCH. 


From  the  Life  of  Julius  C^sab. 


The  chiefest  cause  that  made  him  mortally  hated,  was  th» 
couetous  desire  he  had  to  be  called  King  :  which  first  gaue  the 
people  iust  cavise,  and  next  his  secret  enemies,  honest  colour 
to  beare  him  ill  -will.  This  notwithstanding,  they  that  pro- 
cured him  this  honour  and  dignitie,  gaue  it  out  among  the 
people  that  it  was  written  in  the  Sybiline  prophecies,  how  the 
Romaines  might  ouercorae  the  Parthians,  if  they  made  warre 
with  them,  and  were  led  by  a  king,  but  otherwise  that  they 
were  vnconquei'able.  And  furthermore  they  were  so  bold 
besides,  that  C2esar  returning  to  Rome  from  the  city  of  Albt*, 
when  they  came  to  salute  him,  they  called  him  king.  But  the 
people  being  offended,  and  Caesar  also  angrie,  he  said  he  wa» 
not  called  king,  but  Cajsar.  Then  euery  man  keeping  silence, 
he  went  his  way  heauy  and  sorrowfull.  When  they  had 
decreed  diuers  honours  for  him  in  the  Senate,  the  Consuls  and 
Praetors,  accompanied  with  the  whole  assembly  of  the  Senate, 
went  vuto  him  in  the  market  place,  where  he  waa  set  by  the 
pulpit  for  orations,  to  tell  him  what  honors  they  had  decreed 
for  him  in  his  absence.  But  he  sitting  stil  in  his  maiestie, 
disdaining  to  rise  vp  vnto  them  when  they  came  in,  as  if  they 
had  bene  priuate  men,  answered  them  :  that  his  honors  had 
more  neede  to  be  cut  off  then  enlarged.  This  did  not  onely 
offead  the  Senate,  but  th^  common  people  also,  to  see  that  he 


164  ELIiUSTBATlVIE   PASSAGES   FBOM 

should  80  lightly  esteeme  of  the.  Magistrates  of  the  commoB 
wealth  :  insomuch  as  euery  man  that  might  la'vrfully  go  his 
way,  departed  thence  very  sorrowfully.  Thereupon  alijo  Caegar 
rising,  departed  home  to  his  house,  and  tearing  open  his  dublet 
coUer,  making  his  necke  bare,  he  cried  out  aloud  to  his  friends, 
that  his  throte  was  readie  to  offer  to  any  man  that  would  come 
and  cut  it.  Notwithstanding,  it  is  reported,  that  afterwards 
to  excuse  this  folly,  he  imputed  it  to  his  disease,  sajong, 
that  their  wits  are  not  perfit  which  haue  this  disease  of  the 
falling  euill,  when  standing  on  their  feete  they  speake  to  the 
common  people,  but  are  soone  troubled  with  a  trembUng  of 
their  bodie,  and  a  sodaine  dimnesse  and  giddinesse.  But  that 
ffiis  not  true  :  for  he  would  haue  risen  vp  to  the  Senite,  but 
Cornelius  Balbus  one  of  his  friends  (or  rather  a  flatterer) 
would  not  let  him,  saying  :  what,  do  you  not  remember  yon 
are  Caesar,  and  will  you  not  let  them  renerence  you,  and  do 
their  duties?  Besides  these  occasions  and  offences,  there 
folowed  also  his  shame  and  reproch,  abusing  the  Tribunes  of 
the  people  in  this  sort.  At  that  time,  the  feast  Lupercalia  was 
celebrated,  the  which  in  old  time,  men  say  was  the  feast  of 
shepheards  or  heard-men,  and  is  much  like  vnto  the  feast  of 
the  Lycccians  in  Arcadia.  But  howsoeuer  it  is,  that  day  there 
are  diners  noble  mens  sons,  yong  men,  (and  some  of  them 
Magistrates  themselues  that  goueme  then)  which  run  naked 
through  the  citie,  striking  in  sport  them  they  meete  in  their 
way,  with  leather  thongs,  haire  and  all  on,  to  make  them  giue 
place.  And  many  noble  women  and  gentlewomen  also,  go  of 
purpose  to  stand  in  their  way,  and  do  put  forth  their  hands 
to  be  striken,  as  scholars  hold  them  out  to  their  schoolemaister, 
to  be  striken  with  the  ferula:  perswading  themselues  that 
being  with  child,  they  shall  haue  good  deliuerie ;  and  also 
being  barren,  that  it  will  make  th^ra  to  conceiue  with  child- 
Caesar  sate  to  behold  that  sport  •vpon  the  pulpit  for  orations, 
in  a  chair  of  gold,  apparelled  in  triumphant  nianer.  Antoniua 
who  was  Consul!  at  that  time,  was  one  of  them  that  rann©  this 
holy  course.  So  when  he  came  into  the  market  place,  the 
people  made  a  lane  for  him  to  runne  at  libertie,  and  he  came 
to  Caesar,  and  presented  him  a  Diadeame  wreathed  about  with 
laarell.     TMiereupon  there  ix>m  a  certaine  crie  of  xeioyciiig, 


NO&TH'S   TRANSLATION   OF   PLUTARCH.  165 

ft«i  very  great,  done  Dnely  by  a  few,  appointed  for  the  parpose. 
But  when  Gsej^ai  refused  the  Diadeame,  then  all  the  people 
together  made  an  outcrie  of  ioy.  Then  Antonius  ofiFeriiig  it 
him  againe,  there  was  a  second  shout  of  ioy,  but  yet  of  a  few. 
But  when  Caesar  refused  it  againe  the  second  time,  then  all 
the  whole  people  shouted.  Ca&sar  hauing  made  this  proofe, 
found  that  the  people  did  not  like  of  it,  and  thereui)on  rose 
out  of  his  chaire,  and  commanded  the  crowne  to  be  caiied  vnto 
lupiter  in  the  Capitoll.  After  that,  there  were  set  vp  images 
of  Caesar  in  the  citie,  with  Diademes  vpon  their  heads,  like 
kings.  Those,  the  two  Tribunes,  Flauius  and  ISIarullus,  went 
and  pulled  downe  :  and  furthermore,  meeting  with  them  that 
irst  saluted  Ceesar  as  King,  they  committed  them  to  prison. 
The  people  followed  them  reioycing  at  it,  and  called  them 
Brutes,  because  of  Bi-utus,  who  had  in  old  time  driuen  the 
kings  out  of  Rome,  and  that  brought  the  kingdome  of  one 
person,  vnto  the  gouernment  of  the  Senate  an<l  peojtle.  Csesar 
was  BO  offended  withall,  that  he  depriued  Slarullus  and  Flauius 
of  their  Tribuneships,  and  accusing  them,  he  spake  also  against 
the  people,  and  called  them  Bruti,  and  CMmani,  to  wit, 
beasts,  and  foolea.  Hereupon  the  people  went  stiaight  vnto 
Marcus  Brutus,  who  from  his  father  came  of  the  first  Brutus, 
and  by  his  mother,  of  the  house  of  the  Seruilians,  a  noble 
house  as  any  was  in  Home,  and  was  also  nej^hew  and  sonne  in 
law  of  Marcus  Cato.  Notwithstanding,  the  gieat  honors  and 
'auour  Cfesar  shewed  vnto  him,  kept  him  backe  that  of  him- 
selfe  alone,  he  did  not  conspire  nor  consent  to  defjose  him  of 
his  kingdome.  For  Caesar  did  not  only  saue  his  life,  after  the 
battell  of  Pharsalia  when  Pompey  fled,  and  did  at  his  request 
also  saue  many  moe  of  his  friends  besides  :  but  furthermore, 
he  put  a  maruellous  coniidence  in  him.  For  he  had  alreadie 
preferred  him  to  that  Praetorship  for  that  yeare,  and  further- 
more was  appointed  to  be  Consull  the  fourth  yeare  after  that, 
hauing  through  Caesars  friendship  obtained  it  before  Cassius, 
who  likewise  made  sute  for  the  same :  and  C.iesar  also,  as  it  is 
reported,  said  in  this  contention,  Indeed  Cassius  hath  alleaged 
beat  reason,  but  yet  shall  he  not  be  chosen  before  Brutus. 
Borne  one  day  accusing  Brutus  while  he  piractised  this  con* 
trpir««i'!»,  Csesar  would  Lot  heare  of  it,  but  clappmg  his  hand  aa 


166  HiLTJSTEATIYE    PASSAGES   FEOM 

hiB  bodie,  told  them,  Brutus  wil  looke  for  this  skin  :  meaning 
therby,  that  Brutus  for  his  vertue,  deserued  to  rule  after  him, 
but  yet,  that  for  ambitions  sake,  he  would  not  show  him  selfe 
vnthankfull  or  dishonorable.  Now  they  that  desired  change, 
and  vrished  Brutus  onely  their  Prince  and  Gouemour  aboue  all 
other:  they  durst  not  come  to  him  themselues  to  tell  him 
what  they  would  haue  him  to  do,  but  in  the  night  did  cast 
snndrie  papers  into  the  Praetors  seate  where  he  gaue  audience, 
and  the  most  of  them  to  this  effect :  Thou  eleepest  Brutus, 
and  art  not  Brutus  indeed.  Cassius  finding  Brutus  ambition 
stirred  vp  the  more  by  these  seditious  bds,  did  pricke  him 
forward,  and  egge  him  on  the  more,  for  a  priuate  quarell  he 
had  conceiued  against  Cajsar:  the  circumstance  whereof,  we 
haue  set  downe  more  at  large  in  Brutus  life.  Caesar  also  had 
Cassius  in  great  ielousie,  and  suspected  him  much  :  whereupon 
he  said  on  a  time  to  his  friends,  what  will  Cassius  do,  think 
ye  ?  I  like  not  his  pale  looks.  Another  time  when  Creaars 
friends  complained  vnto  him  of  Antonius  and  Dolabella,  that 
they  pretended  some  mischiefe  towards  him  :  he  answered 
them  againe,  as  for  those  fat  men  and  smooth  combed  heads, 
quoth  he,  I  neuer  reckon  of  i>hem  :  but  these  pale  visaged  and 
canon  leane  people,  I  feare  them  most,  meaning  Brutus  and 
Cassius.  Certainly,  destinie  may  easier  be  foreseene,  then 
auoided  :  considering  the  strange  and  wonderfull  signes  that 
were  said  to  be  seene  before  Caesars  death.  For,  toucLL:;;;  the 
fires  in  the  element,  and  spirits  running  vp  and  downe  in  the 
night,  &  also  the  solitarie  birds  to  be  seene  at  noon  daies 
sitting  in  the  great  market  place  :  aie  not  aU  these  signes 
perhaps  worth  the  noting,  in  such  a  wonderfull  chance  as 
happened?  But  Strabo  the  Philosopher  writeth,  that  diuepp 
men  were  seene  going  vp  and  down  in  fire  :  and  furthermore, 
that  there  was  a  slaue  of  the  souLliers,  that  did  cast  a  mar- 
nellous  burning  flame  out  of  his  hand,  insonmch  as  they  that 
•aw  it,  thought  he  had  bene  burnt ;  but  when  the  fire  was 
out,  it  was  found  he  had  no  hurt.  Csesar  self  also  doing 
sacrifice  vnto  the  gods,  foim^d  that  one  of  the  beasts  which 
was  sacrificed  had  no  heart :  and  that  was  a  strange  thing  ir. 
nature,  how  a  beast  could  Hue  without  a  heart.  Furthermore, 
there  was  a  certains  Soothsayer  that  bad  giuen  Caesar  wamii'^ 


NOaTH'H    TR^^THLATTON    OV    PLDTABCH.  167 

•long  afore,  to  take  hes4  of  the  day  of  the  Idea  of  March  (which 
{b  the  tifteenth  of  the  moiieth),  for  ou  that  day  he  should  be  in 
great  danger.  That  day  being  come,  C»esivr  going  vnto  th® 
Senate  bouse,  and  apeaking  merily  vnto  the  sootlisayer,  told 
him,  the  Ides  of  March  be  come :  So  they  be,  softly 
answered  the  Soothsayer,  but  yet  are  they  not  past.  And 
the  very  day  before,  Caesar  supping  with  Marcus  Lepidus, 
sealed  certaine  letters  as  ho  was  wont  to  do  at  the  boord  :  ao 
talk  falling  out  amongst  them,  reasoning  what  ueath  was  best : 
he  preuenting  their  opinions,  cried  out  aloud,  death  vnlooked 
for.  Then  going  to  bed  the  same  night  as  his  manner  was,  and 
lying  with  his  Avife  Calpui-nia,  all  the  windows  and  doores  of 
hie  chamber  flying  open,  the  noise  awoke  him,  and  made  him 
afraid  when  he  saw  such  light :  but  more,  when  he  heard  his 
wife  Calpurnia,  being  fast  asleepe,  weepe  and  sigh,  and  put 
forth  many  fumbling  lamentable  speeches  :  for  she  dreamed 
that  Csesar  was  slaine,  and  that  she  had  him  in  her  armes. 
Others  also  do  denie  that  she  had  any  such  dreame,  as  amotigst 
other,  Titus  Liuius  writeth,  that  it  was  in  this  sort  :  The  ."Senat© 
hauing  set  vpon  the  top  of  Cseears  house  for  an  ornament,  and 
setting  forth  of  the  same,  a  certaine  pinnacle :  Calpurnia 
dreamed  that  she  saw  it  broken  downe,  and  that  she  thought 
she  lamented  and  wept  for  it.  Insomuch  that  Csesar  rising  in 
the  morning,  she  prayed  him  if  it  were  possible,  not  to  go  out 
of  the  doores  that  day,  but  to  adiorne  the  session  of  the  Senate, 
vntill  another  day.  And  if  that  he  made  no  reckoning  of  her 
dreame,  yet  that  he  would  search  further  of  the  Soothsayers  by 
their  sacrifices,  to  know  what  should  happen  him  that  day. 
Thereby  it  seemed  that  Caesar  likewise  did  feare  and  suspect 
somewhat,  because  his  wife  Calpurnia  vntill  that  time,  was 
neuer  giuen  to  any  feare  or  superstition  :  and  that  then  he  saw 
her  so  troubled  in  mind  with  this  dreame  she  had.  But  much 
more  afterwards,  when  the  Soothsayers  hauing  sacrificed 
mtaxj  beasts  one  after  another,  told  him  that  none  did  like 
them :  then  he  determined  to  send  Antonius  to  adiorne 
the  session  of  the  Senate.  But  in  the  meane  time  came  De- 
cius  Brutus,  surnamed  Albinus,  In  whom  Cassar  put  such  con- 
fidenoe,  that  in  his  last  will  and  testament  he  had  appoLatw4 
biia  to  ba  bia  next  heire,  and  yet  was  of  the  conflpirooie  witb 


168  IliLUSTBATIVE   PAfiSAGEH    FBOM 

Ca«rinB  and  Brutus  :  he  fearing  that  if  Csesar  did  adiome  the 
session  that  day,  the  conspiracie  would  be  betrayed,  laughed  at 
the  SoothsayerB,  and  reproued  Caesar,  saying  :  thathe  gaue  the 
Senate  occasion  to  mislike  with  him,  and  that  they  might 
thinke  he  mocked  them,  considering  that  by  his  commande- 
meut  they  were  assembled,  and  that  they  were  ready  willingly 
to  grant  him  all  things,  and  to  proclaime  him  king  of  all  the 
prouinces  of  the  Empire  of  Rome  out  of  Italy,  and  that  he 
ghould  weare  his  Diadem  in  all  other  places  both  by  eea  & 
land.  And  furthermoi-e,  that  if  any  man  shovild  tell  them 
from  him,  they  should  depart  for  that  present  time,  and  re- 
turne  again  when  Calpurnia  should  haue  better  dreames  :  what 
would  his  enemies  and  ill  willers  say,  and  how  could  they  like 
of  his  friends  words  ?  And  who  could  perswade  them  other- 
wise, but  that  they  would  thinke  his  dominion  a  slausrie  vnto 
them,  and  tyrannicall  in  himself  ?  And  yet  if  it  be  so,  said  he, 
that  you  vtterly  mislike  of  this  day,  it  is  better  that  you  go 
your  selfe  in  person,  and  saluting  the  Senate,  to  dismisse  them 
till  another  time.  Therewithal!  he  tooke  Caesar  by  the  hand, 
and  brought  him  out  of  his  house.  Caesar  was  not  gone  far 
from  his  house,  but  a  bondman,  a  stranger,  did  what  he  could 
to  speak  with  him  :  and  when  he  saw  he  was  put  back  by  the 
great  prease  and  multitude  of  people  that  followed  him,  he  went 
straight  into  his  house,  and  put  himself  into  Calpurniaes 
hands  to  be  kept,  tUl  Caesar  came  backe  againe,  telling  her 
that  he  had  greater  matters  to  impart  vnto  him.  And  one 
Artemidorus  also  borne  in  the  He  of  Gnidos,  a  Doctor  of  Rhe- 
toricke  in  the  Greeke  tongue,  who  by  meanes  of  his  profession  was 
very  familiar  with  certaine  of  Brutus  confederates,  and  there- 
fore knew  the  most  i)art  of  all  their  practices  against  Caeaar  : 
came  and  brought  him  a  litle  bill  written  with  his  owue  hand, 
of  all  that  he  meant  to  tell  him.  He  marking  how  C&sar 
receiued  all  the  supplicatione  that  were  offered  him,  and  that 
he  gaue  the  straight  to  his  men  that  were  about  him,  pressed 
nearer  to  him,  and  Raid  :  Csesar,  reade  this  memoriall  to  your 
■elfe,  and  that  quickly,  for  they  be  matters  of  great  waigLt, 
and  touch  you  nearely.  Caesar  tooke  it  of  him,  but  couJd 
neuer  reade  it,  though  he  many  times  attempted  it,  for  the 
ftuuber  of  people  thai  did  s^i^ute  him  :  but  holding  it  itill  in 


NOfiTHS   TEANSliATlON    OF    PLiUTAJbtCH.  169 

his  hand,  keeping  it  to  himselfe,  vrent  on  withall  into  the 
Senate  house.  Howbeit  other  are  ot  opinion,  that  it 
was  some  man  else  that  gaue  him  that  memoriall,  and  not 
Artemidorus,  who  did  what  he  could  all  the  way  as  he 
went  to  giue  it  Caesar,  but  he  was  alwayes  repulsed  by  the 
people.  For  these  things  they  may  seeme  to  come  by  chance  : 
but  the  place  where  the  murther  was  prepared,  k  where  the 
Senate  were  assembled,  and  where  also  there  stood  vj)  an 
image  of  Pompey  dedicated  by  himselfe  amongst  other  orna- 
ments which  he  gaue  vnto  the  Theater :  all  these  were  mani- 
fest proofes  that  it  was  the  ordinance  bf  some  god,  that  made 
this  treason  to  be  executed,  specially  in  that  very  place.  It  is 
also  reported,  that  Cassius  (though  otherwise  he  did  fauour  tho 
doctrine  of  Epicurus)  beholding  the  image  of  Pompey,  before 
they  entred  into  the  action  of  their  traiterous  enterprise,  he 
did  softly  call  vpon  it,  to  aide  him :  but  the  instant  danger 
of  the  present  time,  taking  away  his  former  reason,  did  sodainly 
put  him  into  a  furious  passion,  and  made  him  like  a  man 
halfe  besides  himselfe.  Now  Antonius,  that  was  a  faithfull 
friend  to  Ca3sar,  and  a  valiant  man  besides  of  his  hands,  him 
Decius  Brutus  Albinus  entertained  out  of  the  Senate  house, 
hauing  begunne  a  long  tale  of  set  purpose.  So  Caesar  comming 
into  the  house,  aU  the  Senate  stood  vp  on  their  feete  to  do 
him  honour.  Then  part  of  Brutus  companie  and  confederates 
stood  round  about  Caesars  chaire,  and  part  of  them  also  came 
towards  him,  as  though  they  made  sute  with  Metullus  Cimber, 
to  call  home  his  brother  againe  from  banishment :  and  thus 
prosecuting  still  their  sute,  they  followed  Caesar,  till  he  was 
set  in  his  chaire.  'WTio,  denying  their  petitions,  and  being 
offended  with  them  one  after  another,  because  the  mor.  they 
were  denied,  the  mere  they  pressed  vpon  him,  and  were  the 
eaniester  with  him  :  Meteilus  at  length,  taking  his  gowne  vath 
both  his  hands,  pulled  it  ouer  his  necke,  which  was  the  signe 
giuen  the  confederates  to  set  vpon  him.  Then  Casca  behind 
him  strake  him  in  the  necke  with  his  sword,  howbeit  the 
wound  was  not  great  nor  mortall,  because  it  seemed  the  feare 
of  such  a  diuelish  attempt  did  amaze  him,  and  take  his 
strength  from  him,  that  he  killed  him  not  at  the  first  blow. 
Hut  Cajsar   turning  straight   vnto    hin>-    caught   hold  of  hia 


170  nj.USTRATTTE    PASSAOKP    FIK  >M 

■word,  and  held  it  hard,  and  they  both  cried  out :  Cae«iir  la 
Latin,  O  vile  traitor  Casca,  -what  doeat  thou?  And  Casc»»  in 
Greek  to  bis  brother,  Brother,  help  nne.  At  the  beginning 
of  this  stir,  they  that  were  present,  not  knowing  of  the  cun- 
ipiracie,  were  so  amazed  with  the  horrible  sight  they  saw, 
they  had  no  power  to  flie,  neither  to  help  him,  nor  so  mu'jh 
us  once  to  make  an  outcrie.  They  on  the  other  side  that 
had  conspired  hia  death,  copassed  him  in  on  euery  ai.le 
with  their  swords  drawn  in  tlieir  hands,  that  Caesar  turned 
him  no  where,  but  he  was  striken  at  by  some,  and  still 
had  naked  swords  in  his  face,  and  was  hacked  k  mangled 
among  them,  as  a  wild  beast  taken  of  hunters.  For  it  wa» 
agreed  among  them  that  euery  man  should  giue  him  a  wound, 
because  al  their  parts  should  be  in  this  murther  :  and  then 
Brutus  himself  gaue  him  one  wound  about  his  priuities.  Men 
report  also,  that  Caesar  did  stil  defend  himself  against  tlierest* 
running  euery  way  with  his  bodie  :  but  who  he  saw  Brutus 
with  his  sword  drawne  in  his  hand,  then  he  pulled  his  gowne 
ouer  his  head,  and  made  no  more  resistance,  and  was  driuen 
either  casually  o:  purposedly,  by  the  counsel  of  the  conspira- 
tors, against  the  base  whereupon  I'ompeys  image  stood,  which 
ran  all  of  a  goare  bloud  till  he  was  slaine.  Thus  it  seemed 
that  the  image  tooke  iust  revenge  of  Pompeys  enemie,  being 
throwne  down  on  the  ground  at  his  feet,  k  yeelding  vp  his 
ghost  there,  for  the  number  of  wounds  he  had  vjton  him.  For 
it  is  reported,  that  he  had  three  and  twentie  wounds  vpon  his 
bodie:  and  diuers  of  the  conspirators  did  hurt  themselues, 
striking  one  bodie  with  so  many  blows,  ^^^len  Caesar  was 
■laine,  the  Senate  (though  Brutus  stood  in  the  middest  amongst 
them,  as  though  he  would  haue  said  something  touching  this 
fact)  presently  ranne  out  of  the  house,  and  fl}ing,  filled  all  the 
citie  with  maruelluus  feare  and  tumult.  Insomuch  as  some  did 
ihut  too  their  doores,  others  forsooke  their  shops  and  ware- 
houses, and  others  ranne  to  the  place  to  see  what  the  matter 
was  :  and  others  also  that  had  seene  it,  ran  home  to  their 
houses  againe.  But  Antonius  and  Lepidus,  which  were  two  of 
Csssars  chiefest  friends,  seoretly  conueying  themselues  away, 
fled  into  other  mens  houses,  and  forsooke  their  owne.  Brutus, 
r^d  hi*  couiedeijttes  on  ibe  other  aids,  btu'i  5    v">f  h  ■*  '^ith  fhi* 


KOBTH'8   TRANSLATION   OF   PLUTABCH.         171 

mttrther  they  had  committed,  hauing  their  swords  drawne  in 
their  hands,  came  all  in  a  troupe  together  out  of  the  Senate, 
and  went  into  the  market  place,  not  as  men  that  made  coim- 
tenance  to  flie,  but  otherwise,  boldly  holding  vp  their  heads 
like  men  of  courage,  and  called  to  the  peoi^le  to  defend  their 
libertie,  and  staid  to  speake  mth  euery  great  personage  whom 
they  met  in  their  way.  Of  them,  some  folowed  this  troupe, 
and  went  amongst  them,  as  if  they  had  bene  of  the  conspiracie, 
and  falsly  chalenged  part  of  the  honor  with  them :  amongst 
them  was  Caius  Octauius,  and  Lentulus  Spinther.  But  both 
of  them  were  afterwards  put  to  death,  for  their  vaine  coue- 
tousness  of  honor,  by  Antonius,  and  Octauius  Caesar  the 
yonger :  and  yet  had  no  part  of  that  honor  for  the  which 
they  were  both  put  to  death,  neitlier  did  any  man  beleeue  that 
they  were  any  of  the  confederates  or  of  counsel  with  them. 
For  they  that  did  put  them  to  death,  took  reuenge  rather  of 
the  wil  they  had  to  offend,  then  of  any  fact  they  had  com- 
mitted. The  next  morning,  Brutus  &  his  confederats  came 
into  the  market  place  to  speake  vnto  the  people,  who  gaue  the 
auch  audience,  that  it  seemed  they  neither  greatly  reproued, 
nor  allowed  the  fact :  for  by  their  great  silence  they  shewed, 
that  they  were  sory  for  Csesars  death,  and  also  that  they  did 
reuerenoe  Brutus.  Now  the  Seriate  granted  gcnerall  pardon 
for  all  that  was  past,  and  to  pacifie  euery  man,  ordained  be- 
sides, that  Csesars  funerals  should  be  honored  as  a  god,  & 
established  all  things  that  he  had  done  :  and  gaue  certaine 
prouincea  also,  and  conuenient  honors  vnto  Brutus  k  his  con- 
federates, wherby  euery  man  thought  all  things  were  brought 
tc  good  peace  and  quietnes  again.  But  when  they  had  opened 
Csesars  testament,  &  found  a  liberall  legacie  of  mony  be- 
queathed vnto  euery  citizen  of  Rome,  k  that  they  saw  his 
body  (which  was  brought  into  the  market  place)  al  bemangled 
with  gashes  of  swords  :  th§  there  was  no  order  to  keep  the 
multitude  &  common  people  quiet,  but  they  plucked  vp  former, 
tables,  and  stooles,  and  laid  them  all  about  the  body,  and  get- 
ting them  afire,  burnt  the  corse.  Then  when  the  fire  was  well 
kindled,  they  tooke  the  fire-brands,  and  went  vnto  their 
liouses  that  had  slaine  Csesar,  to  sot  them  afire.  Other  also 
raii  T^  find  down  the  citie  to  see  if  they  c^nld  meet  with  aa^' 


172  rLLTJSTEATIVK    PASSAGES    PEOZtt 

of  them,  to  cut  them  in  peeces  :  howbeit  they  could  meet  with 
aeuer  a  man  of  them,  because  they  had  locked  theselues  vp 
lafely  in  their  houses.  There  was  one  of  Caesars  friends  called 
CinuA,  that  had  a  maruellous  strange  k  terrible  dreame  the 
night  before.  He  dreamed  that  Caesar  bad  him  to  supper,  and 
that  he  refused  and  would  not  go :  then  that  Caesar  took  him 
by  the  hand,  k  led  him  against  his  wil.  Now  Cinna  hearing 
at  that  time,  that  they  burnt  Caesar*  body  in  the  market 
place,  not w-ith standing  that  he  feared  his  dreame,  and  had  an 
ague  on  him  besides  :  he  went  into  the  market  place  to  honour 
his  funerals.  "VHien  he  came  thither,  one  of  the  meane  sort 
asked  him  what  his  name  was  ?  He  was  straight  called  by  hia 
name.  The  first  man  told  it  to  another,  and  that  otlier  vnto 
another,  so  that  it  ranne  straight  through  them  all,  that  he 
was  one  of  them  that  murthered  Ciesar  :  (for  indeed  one  of 
the  traitors  to  Caesar,  was  also  called  Cinna  as  himselfe) 
wherefore  taking  him  for  Cinna  the  murtherer,  they  fell  vpon 
him  with  such  furie,  that  they  presently  dispatched  him  in  the 
market  place.  This  stirre  and  furie  made  Brutus  and  Cassius 
more  affraid,  then  of  all  that  was  past,  and  therefore  within 
few  dales  after,  they  departed  out  of  Home  :  and  touching 
their  doings  afterwards,  and  what  calamitie  they  suffered  till 
their  deaths,  we  haue  written  at  large  in  the  life  of  Brutus. 
Caesar  died  at  sixe  and  fiftie  yeares  of  age,  and  Pompey  alao  lined 
not  passing  four  yeares  more  then  he.  So  he  reapeil  no  other 
fruite  of  his  raigne  and  dominion,  which  he  had  so  vehemently 
desired  all  his  life,  and  pursued  with  such  extreame  danger  : 
but  a  vaine  name  onely,  and  a  superficiall  glorie,  that  procured 
hirn  the  enuy  and  hatred  of  his  countrey.  •  But  his  great  i>ro3- 
peritie  and  good  fortune  that  fauoured  him  all  his  life  time,  did 
continue  afterwards  in  the  reuenge  of  his  death,  pursuing  the 
murtherers  both  by  sea  and  land,  till  they  had  not  left  a  man 
more  to  be  executed,  of  all  them  that  were  actors  or  counsel- 
lera  in  the  conspiracie  of  his  death.  Furthermore,  of  all  the 
chances  that  happen  vnto  men  vjion  the  earth,  that  which 
came  to  Cassius  aboue  all  other,  is  most  to  be  wondred  at ; 
for  he  being  ouercome  in  battell  at  the  iomey  of  Philippes, 
slue  himselfe  with  the  same  sword,  with  which  he  strake 
Cfebsar.      Againe  of  signsa  in  the  element,   tlie  great  comet 


NOETH'8    TRANSLATION    OF   PLUTABCH.  173 

rrhidi  seuen  nights  together  was  seene  rery  bright  after 
Caesars  death,  the  eighth  night  after  was  neuer  seene  more. 
Also  the  brightnesse  of  the  Sunne  was  darkened,  the  which  all 
that  yeare  tlirough  rose  very  pale,  and  shined  not  out,  whereby 
it  gaue  but  small  heate  :  tlierefore  the  ayre  being  very  cloudie 
and  darke,  by  the  weaknesse  of  the  heate  that  could  not  come 
forth,  did  cause  the  eartli  to  bring  forth  but  raw  and  vnripe 
fruite,  which  rotted  before  it  could  ripe.  B  it  aboue  all,  the 
ghost  that  appeared  vnto  Brutus  shewed  plainly,  that  the  goda 
were  offended  with  the  mm-ther  of  Caesar.  The  vision  was 
thus  :  Brutus  being  readie  to  passe  ouer  his  arraie  from  the 
citie  of  Arydos,  to  the  other  coast  lying  directly  against  it, 
slept  euery  night  (as  his  maner  was)  in  his  tent,  and  being 
yet  awake,  thinking  of  his  affaires  :  (for  by  report  he  was  as 
carefull  a  Captaine,  and  lined  with  as  little  sleepe,  as  euer  man 
did)  he  thought  he  heard  a  noise  at  his  tent  doore,  and  looking 
towards  the  light  of  the  lamp  that  waxed  very  dim,  he  saw  a 
horrible  vision  of  a  man,  of  a  wonderf ull  greatnesse,  and  dread- 
full  looke,  which  at  the  first  made  him  maruellously  afraid. 
But  when  he  saw  that  it  did  him  no  hurt,  but  stood  by  hif 
bed  side,  &  said  nothing  ;  at  length  he  asked  him  what  he 
was.  The  image  answered  him  :  I  am  thy  ill  Angell,  Brutus, 
and  thou  shalt  see  me  by  the  citie  of  Philippes.  Then  Brutus 
replied  againe,  and  said  :  Well,  I  sUall  see  thee  then.  There- 
withal!, the  spirit  presently  vanished  from  him.  After  that 
time,  Brutus  being  in  battell  neare  vnto  the  citie  of  Philipj)e8, 
against  Antonius  and  Octauius  Caesar,  at  the  first  battell  he 
wanne  the  victorie,  and  ouerthrowiug  all  them  that  ■withstood 
him,  he  di-aue  them  into  yong  Caisars  camp,  which  he  tooke. 
The  second  battell  being  at  hand,  this  spirit  appeared  againe 
vnto  him,  but  spake  neuer  a  word.  Thereupon  Brutus  know- 
ing that  he  should  die,  did  put  himselfe  to  all  hazard  in 
battell,  but  yet  fighting  could  not  be  slaine.  So  seeing  hia 
men  put  to  flight  and  ouerthrowne,  he  ranne  vnto  a  little  rocke 
not  farre  off,  and  there  setting  his  swords  point  to  his  brracs, 
fell  vpon  it,  and  slue  himselfe  :  but  yet,  as  it  is  reported;  witb 
she  k«i^  of  Ilia  friend  that  dispatched  hiau 


174  EEJLUSTHATIVE    PASSAGES    FBOM 


From  the  Life  of  Marcus  Brutub. 


Marcus  Bkutus  came  of  that  lunius  Brutus,  for  whom  the 
BUBcient  Eomaines  made  his  statue  of  brasse  to  be  Bet  vp 
in  the  CapitoU,  with  the  images  of  the  kings,  holding  a  naked 
Bword  in  his  hand  :  because  he  had  valiantly  put  downe  the 
Tarqvines  from  their  kingdome  of  Rome.  But  that  lunius 
Brutus  being  of  a  sower  sterne  nature,  not  softened  by  reason, 
being  like  vnto  sword  blades  of  too  hard  a  temper :  was  so 
fiubiect  to  his  choller  and  malice  he  bare  vnto  the  tyrants,  that 
for  their  sakes  he  caused  his  owiie  sonnes  to  be  executed. 
But  this  Marcus  Brutus  in  contrarie  manner,  whose  life  we 
presently  write,  hauing  framed  his  life  by  the  rules  of  vertue, 
and  studie  of  Philosophie,  and  hauing  employed  his  wit.  which 
was  gentle  and  constant,  in  attempting  of  great  things  :  me- 
thinkes  he  was  rightly  made  and  framed  vnto  vertue.  So  that 
his  very  enemies  which  wish  him  most  hurt,  because  of  hia 
conspiracie  against  lulius  Caesar :  if  there  were  any  noble 
attempt  done  in  all  this  conspiracie,  they  referre  it  wholy  vnto 
Brutus,  and  all  the  crueU  and  violent  actes  vnto  Cassius,  who 
was  Brutus  familiar  friend,  but  not  so  well  giuen,  and  con- 
ditioned as  he Marcus    Cato   the  Philosopher 

was  brother  vnto  Seruilia,  Marcus  Brutus  mother :  whom 
Brutus  studied  most  to  follow  of  all  the  other  Komaines, 
because  he  was  his  vncle,  and  afterwards  he  maried  hia 
daughter.  Now  touching  the  Grecian  Philosophers,  there 
was  no  sect  or  Philosopher  of  them,  but  he  heard  and  iiked  it : 
but  aboue  all  the  rest,  he  loued  Platoes  sect  best,  and  di'l  not 
much  giue  himselfe  to  the  new  or  meane  Academie  (aa  they 

call  it)   but  altogether    to    the    old   Academie 

Caesius  being  a  cholericke  man,  and  hating  Caesar  priuatly, 
more  then  he  did  the  tyrannie  openly  ;  he  incensed  Brutua 
against  him.  It  is  also  reported,  that  Brutus  could  euill  away 
with  the  tyrannie,  and  that  Cassius  hated  the  tyrant : 
soaking    many    complaints    for    the    iniuries    he    had    done 


UOBTH'S   TKANSLATION    OF    PI.UTABCH.         175 

liim ;  and  amongst  others,  for  that  he  had  taken  away  hit 
Lions  from  him.  Cassius  had  prouided  them  for  his  sports, 
when  he  should  be  ^Eililis,  and  they  were  found  in  the  citie  of 
Megara,  when  it  was  wonne  by  Oalenus,  and  Cajsar  kept  them. 
The  rumor  went,  that  theae  lions  did  maruelloua  great  hurt  to 
the  Megariana  :  for  when  the  city  was  taken,  they  brake  their 
cages  where  they  were  tyed  vp,  &  turned  the  loose,  break- 
ing they  wold  haue  done  great  mischief e  to  the  enemies,  and 
haue  kept  them  from  setting  vpon  them  :  but  the  lions  (con- 
trarie  to  expectation)  turned  upon  tliemselues  that  fled  vn- 
harmed,  and  did  so  cruelly  teare  some  in  peeces,  that  it  pitied 
their  enemies  to  see  them.  And  this  was  the  cause  (as  some 
do  report)  that  made  Cassius  conspire  against  Cassar.  But 
this  holdeth  no  water  :  for  Cassius  euen  from  his  cradle  could 
not  abide  any  manner  of  tyrants,  as  it  appeared  when  he  was 
but  a  boy,  and  went  vnto  the  same  schoole  that  Faustus,  the 
son  of  Sylla,  did.  And  Faustus  bragging  among  other  boyes, 
highly  boasted  of  his  fathers  kingdom  :  Cassius  rose  vp  on  hia 
feet,  and  gaue  him  two  good  whirts  on  the  eare.  Faustua 
gouernors  would  haue  put  this  matter  in  sute  against  Cassius  : 
but  Pompey  would  not  suffer  them,  but  caused  the  two  boyes 
to  be  brought  before  him,  and  asked  them,  how  the  matter 
came  to  passe.  Then  Cassius  (as  it  is  written  of  him)  said 
vnto  the  other :  Go  too  Faustus,  speake  agaiiie  and  thou  darest, 
before  this  Nobleman  here,  the  same  words  that  made  me 
angrie  with  thee,  that  my  fistes  may  walke  once  againe  about 
tliine  ears.  Such  was  Cassius  hote  stirring  nature.  But  for 
Brutus,  his  friends  and  coimtrimen,  both  by  diuers  procure- 
ments, and  sundrie  rumours  of  the  citie,  and  by  many  bils 
also,  did  openly  call  and  procure  him  to  do  that  he  did.  For 
vnder  the  image  of  his  auncestor  Junius  Brutus,  (that  drauo 
the  kings  out  of  Eotne)  they  wrote  :  O,  that  it  pleased  the 
gods  thou  wert  now  aliue,  Brutus  !  and  againe,  That  thou 
wert  here  among  us  now  I  His  tribunall  or  chaire,  where  he 
gaue  audience  during  the  time  he  was  Praetor,  was  full  of  such 
biilea:  Brutus  thou  art  asleepe,  and  art  not  Brutua  indeed. 
And  of  all  this,  Caesars  flatterers  were  the  cause  :  who  beside 
many  other  exceeding  and  unspeaky.ble  honours  they  daily 
4L9nbed  for  him,  in  the  ui$:ht   timo  they  did  put  Diademoi 


I7t)  ILLU  STEATITE    PASSAGES    FBOM 

vpon  th  0  heades  of  his  images,  supposing  thereby  to  allure  tha 
common  people  to  call  him  King,  in  steade  of  Dictator.  Ho^- 
beit,  it  turned  to  the  contrarie,  (as  we  haue  written  more  at 
large  in  lulius  Caesars  life.)  Now  when  Cassiua  felt  hia 
friends,  and  did  stirre  them  \ip  against  Ceesar  :  they  all  agreed 
and  promised  to  take  part  with  him,  so  Brutus  were  the  chiefe 
of  their  conspiracie.  For  they  told  him,  that  so  high  an  en- 
terprise and  attempt  as  that,  did  not  so  much  require  men  of 
manhood,  and  courage  to  draw  their  swords  :  as  it  stood  the 
vpon  to  haue  a  man  of  such  estimation  as  Brutus,  to  make 
euery  m.an  boldly  thinke,  that  by  his  onely  presence  the  fact 
were  holy  and  iixst.  If  he  tooke  not  this  coui-se,  then  that 
they  should  go  to  it  with  fainter  hearts,  and  when  they  had 
done  it  they  should  be  more  fearefull  :  because  euery  man 
would  thinke  that  Brutus  would  not  haue  refused  to  haue 
made  one  with  them,  if  the  cause  had  bene  good  and  honest. 
Therefore  Cassius  considering  this  matter  with  himselfe,  did 
first  of  all  speake  to  Brutus,  since  they  grew  straunge  to- 
gether for  the  sute  they  had  for  the  Praetorship.  So  when  he 
was  reconciled  to  him  againe,  and  that  they  had  embraced 
one  another ;  Cassius  asked  him  if  he  were  determined  to  be 
in  the  Senate  house,  the  first  day  of  the  nioneth  of  March, 
because  he  heard  say  that  Caesars  friendes  should  moue  the 
councell  that  day,  that  Caesar  should  be  called  King  by  the 
Senate.  Brutus  answered  him,  he  would  not  be  there.  But 
If  we  be  sent  for  (sayed  Cassius)  how  then  ?  For  my  selfe  then 
(sayed  Brutus)  I  meane  not  to  hold  my  peace,  but  to  withstand 
it,  and  rather  die  then  lose  my  libertie.  Cassius  being  bold, 
and  taking  hold  of  this  word  :  "Why  (quoth  he)  what  Romaine 
is  he  aliue  that  will  suffer  thee  to  dye  for  the  libertie  ?  What, 
knowest  thou  not  that  thou  art  Brutus?  Thiuk■^st  thou  that 
they  be  coblers,  tapsters,  or  such  like  base  mechanicall 
people,  that  write  these  billes  and  scrolles  which  are 
found  daily  in  thy  Praetors  chaire,  and  not  the  noblest 
men  and  best  citizens  that  do  it  ?  Xo,  be  thou  well  assured^ 
that  of  other  Prsetors  they  looke  for  giftes,  common  di«tribu- 
tions  amongst  the  people,  &  for  common  playes,  and  to  se* 
fencers  fight  at  the  sharp,  to  shew  the  people  pastime  :  but  at 
thy  hands,  they  ipecially  require  (as  a  due  dabt  raxo  them) 


TfOETH'S   TRANSLATION    OP   PLUTAJBCH.         177 

khe  taking  away  of  the  tyrannie,  being  fully  bent  to  Buffer  any 
extremitie  for  thy  sake,  bo  that  thou  wilt  shew  thy  selfe  to  be 
the  man  thou  art  taken  for,  and  that  they  hope  thou  art. 
Thereupon  he  kissed  Brutus  and  embraced  him :  and  so  each 
taking  leaue  of  other,  they  went  both  to  speake  with  their 
friends  about  it.  Now  amongst  Pompeys  friends,  there  was 
one  called  Caius  Ligarius,*  who  had  bene  accused  vnto  Ceesar 
for  taking  part  with  Pompey ;  and  Caesar  discharged  him.  But 
Ligarius  thanked  not  Cassar  so  much  for  his  discharge,  as  he 
was  offended  with  him,  for  that  he  was  brought  in  daunger  by 
his  tyrannicall  power.  And  therefore  in  his  heart  he  was 
alway  his  mortall  enemie,  and  was  besides  very  familiar  with 
Brutus,  who  went  to  see  him  being  sicke  in  his  bed,  and  sayed 
unto  him  :  Ligarius,  in  what  a  time  art  thou  sicke  ?  Ligarius 
rising  vp  in  his  bed,  and  taking  him  by  the  right  hand,  said 
vnto  him :  Brutus  (said  he)  if  thou  bast  any  great  enterprise 
in  hand  worthie  of  thy  selfe,  I  am  whole.  After  that  time 
they  began  to  feele  all  their  acquaintance  whom  they  trusted, 
and  layed  their  heads  together  consulting  vi^on  it,  and  did  not 
onely  picke  out  their  friends,  but  all  those  also  whom  they 
*hought  stout  enough  to  attempt  any  desperate  matter,  and 
£hat  were  not  affraid  to  lose  their  lines.  For  this  cause  they 
durst  not  acquaint  Cicero  with  their  conspiracie,  although  he 
was  a  man  whom  they  loued  dearely,  and  trusted  best  :  for 
they  were  affraid  that  he  being  a  coward  by  nature,  and  age 
also  hauing  increased  his  feare,  he  would  quile  turne  and  alter 
all  their  pvirpose,  and  quench  the  heate  of  their  enteq^rise  the 
which  specially  required  bote  and  earnest  eiecution,  seeking 
by  perswasion  to  bring  all  things  to  such  safetie,  as  there 
should  be  no  perill.  Brutus  also  did  let  other  of  his  friends 
alone,  as  Statilius  Epicvrian,  and  Faonius,  that  m^ade  profes- 
sion to  foUow  Marcus  Cato  :  because  that  hauing  cast  out 
words  a  farre  off,  disputing  together  in  PhOosophie  to  feele 
their  minds  :  Faonius  answered.  That  ciuill  war  was  worse 
than  tyrannic  ill  gouernment  vsurped  against  the  law.  And 
Statilius  told  aim  also,  That  it  were  an  vnwise  part  of  him,  to 
put  his  life  in  daunger,  for  a  sight  of  ignorant  f coles  and 

■  In  another  pla^^"  they  call  him  QntaSoa 


l78  ZLLUSTRATIVE    PASSAGIIS    FROM 

LiJiUjo  was  present  at  this  talke,  and  maintained  the  oontr&rie 
against  them  both.  But  Brutus  held  his  peace,  as  though  it 
had  bene  a  doubtful!  matter,  and  a  Laxd  thing  to  haue  bene 
decided.  But  afterwardes,  being  out  of  their  companie,  he 
made  Labeo  priuie  to  his  intent  ;  who  very  readOy  offered 
himselfe  to  make  one.  And  they  thought  good  also  to  bring  in 
another  Brutus  to  ioyne  with  him,  sumaraed  xVlbinus  :  who 
was  no  man  of  his  handes  himselfe,  but  because  he  was  able  to 
bring  good  force  of  a  great  number  of  slaues,  and  fencers  at  the 
sharpe,  whom  he  kept  to  shew  the  people  pastime  \\ith  their 
fighting,  besides  a'.sc-  t)iat  Caesar  had  so-,-ne  trust  in  him, 
Cassius  and  Labeo  tcU  Br  it'is  Albinus  of  it  at  the  first,  but 
he  made  them  no  Auc»»nr.  But  when  he  had  s2>oken  with 
Brutus  himselfe  akm,  av.d  that  Brutus  told  him  he  was  the 
chiefe  ring-leader  of  itUi  i  his  conspiracie  :  then  he  willingly 
promised  him  the  best  aide  he  could.  Furthermore,  the  onely 
name  and  great  calling  of  Brutus,  did  bring  on  the  most  of 
them  to  giue  consent  to  this  conspiracie  :  who  hauing  neuer 
taken  othea  together,  nor  taken  or  giuen  any  caution  or  aaau- 
rance,  nor  binding  themselues  one  to  another  by  any  religious 
othes  :  they  all  kept  the  matter  so  secret  to  themselues,  and 
could  so  cunningly  handle  it,  that  notwithstanding,  the  gotis 
did  reueale  it  by  manifest  signes  and  tokens  from  aboue,  and 
by  predictions  of  sacrifices  :  yet  all  this  would  not  be  beleeupd. 
Now  Brutus,  who  knewe  vei-y  well,  that  for  his  sake  all  the 
noblefit,  valiantest,  and  most  couragious  men  of  Rome  diri 
venture  their  lines,  weighing  with  himselfe  the  greatnesse  o» 
the  daunger  :  when  he  was  out  of  his  house,  he  did  so  frame 
and  fashion  his  countenance  and  luokes,  that  no  man  could 
discerne  he  had  any  thing  to  trouble  his  mind.  But  when 
night  came  that  he  was  not  in  his  owne  house,  then  he  waA 
clean  chaujiged  :  for,  either  care  did  wake  him  against  1  is  will 
when  he  woiild  haue  slept,  or  else  oftentimes  of  himselfe  he 
fell  into  such  deepe  thoughts  of  this  enteri>rise,  casting  in  his 
mind  all  the  daungers  that  mij:lit  happen  :  that  his  wife  lying 
by  him,  found  that  there  was  some  maruellous  great  matter 
that  troubled  his  mind,  not  being  wont  to  be  in  that  takiag, 
and  that  he  could  not  well  determine  with  himselfe.  ELi*  v.us 
Porcia  (as  we  haue  told  yo"  before)  waa  the  daughter  of  Ctfcrt 


north's  translation  op  plutabch.      17f> 

f7hoiB  Brutua  marled  being  his  cousin,  not  a  mayden,  bnt  a 
young  widow  after  tbo  death  of  her  first  husband  Bibulu«,  )iy 
whome  she  had  also  a  young  sonne  called  Bibulua,  who  afx^-r- 
wardea  wrote  a  booke  of  the  actes  and  gestes  of  Brutus,  extant 
at  tliis  present  day.  This  young  Ladie  being  excellently  well 
seene  in  Philosophie,  louing  her  husband  well,  and  being  of  a 
noble  courage,  as  she  was  also  wise  :  because  she  would  not 
aske  her  husband  what  he  ayled  before  she  made  some  proofe 
by  her  selfe  :  she  took  a  little  razour  such  as  Barbers  occ-u]>ie 
to  pare  mens  nayles,  and  causing  her  maydes  and  women  to  go 
out  of  her  chamber,  gaue  her  selfe  a  great  gash  withall  in  lier 
thigh,  that  she  was  straight  all  of  a  goate  bloud :  and  inconti- 
nently after,  a  vehement  feauer  tooke  her,  by  reason  of  the 
paine  of  her  wound.  Then  perceiuing  that  her  husband  wa» 
maruellously  out  of  quiet,  and  that  he  could  take  no  rest ; 
euen  in  her  greatest  paine  of  all.  she  spake  in  this  sort  vnto 
him  :  I  being,  6  Brutus,  (said  she)  the  daughter  of  Cato,  wa» 
marled  vnto  thee,  not  to  be  thy  bed-fellowe  and  companion  in 
bedde  and  at  boord  ®nely,  like  a  harlot,  but  to  be  partaker  also 
with  thee  of  thy  good  and  euUl  fortune.  Now  for  tlfy  selfe,  I 
can  find  no  cause  of  fault  in  thee  touching  our  match  :  but  for 
my  part,  how  may  I  shew  my  dutie  towards  thee,  and  how 
much  I  would  do  for  thy  sake,  if  I  cannot  constantly  beare  a 
secret  mischaunce  or  griefe  with  thee,  which  requireth  secrecie 
and  fidelitie.  I  confesoe,  that  a  womans  wit  commonly  is  too 
weake  to  keepe  a  secret  safely  :  but  yet  (Brutus)  good  educa- 
tion and  the  companie  of  vertuous  men,  haue  some  power  to 
reforme  the  defect  of  nature.  And  for  my  selfe,  I  haue  this 
benefite  moreouer,  that  I  am  the  daughter  of  Cato,  and  the 
wife  of  Brutus.  This  notwithstanding  ;  I  did  not  trust  to  any 
of  these  things  before  :  vntil  that  now  I  have  found  by  expe- 
rience, that  no  paine  or  griefe  whatsoeuer  can  ouercome  me. 
With  tltose  wordes  she  shewed  him  her  wound  on  her  thigh, 
and  told  him  what  she  had  done  to  proue  her  selfe.  Brutu* 
was  amazed  what  she  sayed  vnto  him,  and  lifting  vp  Mb  handes 
to  heauen,  he  beso\ight  the  goddes  to  glue  him  the  grace 
he  might  bring  his  enterprise  to  so  good  passe,  that  lip  mighi 
be  found  a  husband,  worthie  of  so  noble  a  wife  rs  I'orcia  ;  ea- 
he  th«'j  did  <iomfort  her  the  best  he  could.     Nowc,  a  day  btdiut 


180  rLLTJSTBATIVE    PASSAGES   PBOM 

»ppornted  for  the  meeting  of  the  Senate,  at  what  time  they 
hoped  Caesar  would  not  fail  to  come  :  the  conspiratours  deter- 
mined then  to  put  their  enterprise  in  execution,  because 
they  might  meete  safrly  at  that  time  without  suspition,  and 
the  rather,  for  that  all  the  noblest  and  chiefest  men  of  the  citie 
would  be  there  :  who  "when  they  should  see  such  a  great  matter 
executed,  would  euery  man  then  set  too  their  handes,  for  the 
defence  of  their  libertie.  Furthermore,  they  thought  also  that 
the  appointment  of  the  place  where  the  councell  should  be 
kept,  was  chosen  of  purjjoseby  diuine  Providence,  and  made  all 
for  them.  For  it  was  one  of  the  porches  about  the  Theater,  in 
the  which  there  was  a  certaine  place  full  of  seates  for  men  to 
sit  in,  where  also  was  set  vp  the  image  of  Pompey,  which  the 
citie  had  made  and  consecrated  in  honour  of  him  :  when  he  did 
beautifie  that  part  of  the  citie  with  the  Theater  he  built,  with 
diuerse  porches  about  it.  In  this  place  was  the  assembly  of 
the  Senate  appointed  to  be,  iust  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  th« 
moneth  of  March,  which  the  Romaines  call,  Idus  Martias  :  so 
that  it  seemed  some  god  of  pur]iose  had  brought  Csesar  thither 
to  be  slaine,  for  reuenge  of  Pomi.  ys  death.  So  when  the  day 
was  come,  Brutus  went  out  of  his  house  with  a  dagger  by  hia 
side  vnder  his  long  gowne,  that  no  bodie  saw  nor  knew,  but  his 
wife  onely.  The  other  conspiratours  were  all  assembled  at 
Cassius  house,  to  bring  his  sonne  into  the  market  place,  who  on 
that  day  did  put  on  the  mans  gowne,  called  Toga  Virilis,  and 
from  thence  they  came  all  in  a  troupe  together 'vnto  Pompeys 
porch,  looking  that  Caesar  would  straight  come  thither.  But 
here  is  to  be  noted,  the  wonderfull  assured  constancie  of  these 
conspirators,  in  so  daungerous  and  waightie  an  enterprise  aa 
they  had  vndertaken.  For  many  of  them  being  Praetors,  by 
reason  of  their  office,  whose  dutie  is  to  minister  iustice  to  euery 
bodie :  they  did  not  onely  with  great  quietnesse  and  courtesie 
heare  them  that  spake  vnto  them,  or  that  pleaded  matters 
before  them,  and  gaue  them  attentiue  care,  as  if  they  had  no 
other  matter  in  their  heads :  but  moreouer,  they  gaue  inst 
•entence,  and  carefully  dispatched  the  causes  before  them.  So 
ihere  was  one  among  them,  who  being  condemned  in  a  certaine 
eumme  of  money,  refused  to  pay  it,  and  cryed  out,  that  ire  did 
cppeale  vnto  Csesar.     Then  B^-utus  casting  Mb  eyes  vyoa  thft 


NOSTH'S   TRANSLATION   OF   PLUTAP.GH.         181 

•onspiratours,  said  :  Caesar  shall  not  let  me  to  see  CI;?  lasye 
executed.  Notwithst*ndmg  this,  by  chance  there  fell  out 
many  misfortunes  vnto  them,  wliich  was  enough  to  haue 
marred  the  enterprise.  The  first  and  chiefest,  was  CsBsars 
long  tarying,  who  came  rery  late  to  the  Senate  :  for,  because 
the  signes  of  the  sacrifices  appeared  vnluckie,  his  wife  Cal- 
phumia  kept  him  at  home,  and  the  Soothsayers  bad  him 
beware  he  went  not  abroad.  The  second  cause  was,  when  one 
came  vnto  Casca  being  a  conspiratour,  and  taking  him  by  the 
hand,  said  vnto  him  :  O  Casca,  thou  keptest  it  close  from  me, 
but  Brutus  hath  told  me  all  Casca  being  amazed  at  it, 
the  other  went  on  with  his  tale,  and  sayd :  ^Vliy,  how  now, 
how  commeth  it  to  passe  thou  art  thus  rich,  that  thou  doest  sue 
to  be  Jildilis  ?  Thus  Casca  being  deceirued  by  the  others  doubtfull 
wordes,  he  told  them  it  was  a  thousand  to  one,  he  blabbed  not 
out  all  the  conspiracie.  Another  Senatour  calletl  ropilius 
Lsena,  after  he  had  saluted  Brutus  and  Cassias  more  friendly 
than  he  was  wont  to  do  :  he  rounded  softly  in  their  eares,  and 
told  them  :  I  pray  the  goddes  you  may  goe  through  with  that 
you  haue  taken  in  hand';  but  withall,  dispatch  I  reade  you» 
for  your  enterprise  is  bewrayed.  "WTien  he  had  sayed,  he  pre- 
sently departed  from  them,  and  left  them  both  affrayed  that 
their  consiuracie  would  out.  Now  in  the  meane  time,  there 
jame  one  of  Brutus  men  post  haste  vnto  him,  and  told  him  hia 
«rife  was  a  dying.  For  Porcia  being  very  care  full  and  pensive 
for  that  which  was  to  come,  and  being  too  weake  to  away  with 
JO  great  and  inward  griefe  of  mind  :  she  could  hardly  keepe 
ivithin,  but  was  frighted  with  euery  litle  noyse  and  crye  she 
aeard,  as  those  that  are  taken  and  possest  with  the  turie  of  the 
Bacchantes,  asking  euery  man  that  came  from  the  market 
place,  what  Brutus  did,  and  still  sent  messenger  after  mes- 
jenger,  to  know  wb-t  newes.  At  length  Caesars  cotnming 
*>eing  prolonged,  (as  you  haue  heard)  Porciaes  weakenesse  waJi 
not  able  to  hold  out  any  longer,  and  thereupon  she  sodainely 
iwounded,  that  she  had  no  leysure  to  goe  to  her  chamber,  but 
▼aa  taken  in  the  middest  of  her  house,  where  her  speech  and 
senses  failed  her.  Howbeit  she  soone  came  to  her  selfe  againe, 
uid  so  was  laj  ed  in  her  bed,  and  tended  by  her  women.  ^^"heD 
BmtuB  heard  these  newes,  it  jjrieued  him,  as  it  L*  iu  ba  u»-«- 


182  ILLUSTRATIVE    PASSAGES    FROM 

<iippose<! :  yet  he  left  not  off  the  care  of  his  coiintrie  and  oom« 
aaonwealth.,  neither  wect  home  to  his  houss  for  any  newes  he 
heartl.  Nowe,  it  waa  reported  that  Caesar  was  comming  in  his 
titter :  for  he  determined  not  to  stay,  in  the  Senate  all  tha 
day  (because  he  waa  affraid  of  the  vnluckie  signes  of  the  sacri- 
Sc©g)  but  to  adioume  matters  of  importance  vnto  the  next 
-Seaaion  and  Coimcell  holden,  fayning  himselfe  not  to  be  •well 
At  ease.  When  Caesar  came  out  of  his  Litter,  PopOius  Lsena 
(that  had  talked  before  with  Brutus  and  Cassius,  and  had 
prayed  the  goddea  they  might  bring  this  enterprise  to  passe) 
went  vnto  Caesar,  and  kept  him  a  long  time  with  a  talke. 
OoAor  gaua  good  ©are  vnto  him,  "Wliereupon  the  conspiratours 
(if  so  they  ahould  be  called)  not  hearing  what  he  said  to  Caesar, 
but  conieoturing  by  that  he  had  told  them  a  litle  before,  that 
his  talke  was  none  other  but  the  very  discouerie  of  their  con- 
«piracie:  they  were  Jkffrayed  euery  man  of  them,  and  one 
lookiiig  In  anuthers  face,  it  was  easie  to  see  that  they  all  were 
M  a  mind,  tliat  it  waa  no  tarying  for  them  till  tliey  were  ap- 
prehended, but  rather  that  they  should  kill  themselues  with 
their  owne  handes.  And  when-  Cassius  and  certaine  other 
olappe-i  their  hands  on  their  swordes  vnder  their  gownes  to 
drawe  them  ;  Brutus  marking  the  countenarice  and  gesture  of 
L»na,  and  considering  that  he  did  vse  himselfe  rather  like  an 
hmiibla  and  earnest  sucer,  then  like  an  accuser :  he  sayed nothing 
to  hij  companion  (because  there  were  many  amongest  them 
that  were  not  of  the  conspiracie)  but  with  a  pleasaunt  coun- 
ten:iace  encouraged  Cassius.  And  immediately  after,  Lana 
weut  from  Caisaj,  and  kissod  his  hand  :  which  shewed  plainely 
that  it  was  for  some  matter  concerning  himselfe,  that  he  had 
held  him  so  long  in  talke.  Now  all  the  Senatours  being  en- 
tred  tirst  into  this  place  or  chapter  house  where  the  councell 
ahould  be  kept,  all  the  other  conspiratours  straight  stood  about 
Casar's  chaiie,  as  if  they  had  had  something  to  cay  vnto  him. 
And  some  say,  that  Cassius  casting  his  eyes  vpon  Pompeys 
image,  made  his  prayer  vnto  it,  as  if  it  had  bene  aliue,  Tre- 
boniufl'  OD   the  other  fcide,  drew  Antonius  aside,  as  he  came 

•  In  Caesars  life  it  Is  sayd,  It  was  Decius  /Jrutus  Albinos,  that  kept 
^Btonitu  with  a  talke  witliout 


NORTHS   TBANSLATION   OF   PLTJTABCH.         183 

ixito  the  house  where  the  Senate  sate,  and  held  him  with  a  long 
talke  without.  "SVhen  Caesar  was  cocae  into  the  house,  aU  the 
Senate  rose  to  honour  him  at  his  comming  ia.  So  when  he 
was  set,  the  conspiratours  flocked  about  him,  and  amongest 
them  they  presented  one  Tullius  Cimber,*  who  made  sute  for 
the  calling  home  againe  of  his  brother  that  was  banished. 
They  all  made  as  though  they  were  intercessours  for  him,  and 
tooke  him  by  the  handes,  and  kissed  hia  heade  and  breast. 
Caesar  at  the  first,  simply  refused  their  kindnesse  and  intrea- 
tiea  :  but  afterwards,  perceiuing  they  still  pressed  on  him,  he 
violently  thrust  them  from  him.  Then  Cimber  with  both  his 
hands  plucked  Caesars  gowne  ouer  his  shoulders,  and  Casca 
that  stf)od  behind  him,  drew  his  duggjr  first,  &  strake  Caesar 
vpon  the  shoulder,  but  gaue  him  nc  gieat  wound.  Caesar 
feeling  himselfe  hurt,  tooke  him  :§traiglt  by  the  hand  he  held 
hia  dagger  in,  &  cryed  out  in  Latin:  Q  traitor  Casca,  what 
dost  thou  ?  Casca  on  the  other  side  cried  in  Greeke,  and  called 
his  brother  to  helpe  him.  So  diners  running  on  a  heape  to- 
getlier  to  flie  vpon  Caesar,  he  looking  al)out  him  to  haue  fled,  saw 
Brutus  with  a  sword  drawne  in  his  hand  ready  to  strike  at 
him  :  then  he  let  Cascaes  hand  goe,  and  casting  his  gowne  ouer 
his  face,  suffered  euery  man  to  strike  at  him  that  wold.  Then 
the  conspirators  thronging  one  vpon  another,  because  euery 
man  was  desirous  to  haue  a  cut  at  him,  so  many  swords  and 
daggers  lighting  vpon  one  body,  one  of  them  hurt  another,  and 
among  them  Brutus  caught  a  blow  on  his  hand,  because  he 
would  make  one  in  murthering  of  him,  and  all  the  rest  also 
were  euery  man  of  them  bloudied.  Caesar  being  slaine  in  this 
inaner,  Brutus  standing  in  the  middest  of  the  house,  would 
haue  spoken,  and  stayed  the  other  Senatours  that  were  not  of 
the  conspiracie,  to  haue  told  them  the  reason  why  they  had 
:Jone  this  fact.  But  they  as  men  both  affrayed  and  amazed, 
Sed  one  vpon  anothers  necke  in  hast  to  get  out  at  the  dcore, 
and  no  man  followed  them.  For  it  was  set  downe,  and  agieed 
betwene  them,  tliat  they  should  kill  no  man  but  Caesar  onely, 
and  should  intreate  all  the  rest  to  looke  to  defend  their 
libertie.     All  the  conspiratours,  but  Brutus,  determining  vpon 

•  In  Casars  life  he  i«  called  Metcllus  Ciinl)CT 


184  tLLUSTEATIVE    PASSAGES   PBOM 

thia  matter,  thoaght  it  good  also  to  kill  A\jitoniu«,  bect^ose  ha 
was  a  wicked  man,  and  that  in  nature  fauoured  tyrannie  :  he- 
eidee  also,  for  that  he  was  in  great  estimation  with  the  souldiers, 
hauing  bene  conversant  of  long  time  amongst  them  :  and  spe- 
cially hauing  a  iniid  bent  to  great  enterprises,  he  was  also  of 
great  authoritie  at  that  time,  being  Consull  with  Caesar.'  But 
r.rutus  wo\ild  not  agree  to  it.  First,  for  that  he  said  it  was 
not  honest :  secondly,  because  he  told  them  there  was  hope  of 
change  in  him.  For  he  did  not  mistrust,  but  that  Arit;)niu8 
being  a  noble  minded  and  couragious  man  (v/hen  he  should 
know  that  Caesar  was  dead)  would  willingly  help  his  countrey 
to  recouer  her  libertie,  hauing  them  an  examj^le  vnto  him,  to 
follow  their  courage  and  vertue.  So  Brutus  by  this  meanes 
Baued  Antonius  life,  who  at  that  present  time  disguised  him- 
self, and  stale  away :  but  Brutus  and  his  consorts,  hauing 
their  swords  bloudie  in  their  hands,  went  straight  to  the 
Capitoll,  perswading  the  Romaines  as  they  went,  to  take  their 
libertie  againe.  Now,  at  the  first  time  when  the  murther  was 
newly  done,  there  were  sudden  outcries  of  people  that  ranne 
vp  and  downe  the  citie,  the  which  indeed  did  the  more  increase 
the  feare  and  tumult.  But  when  they  saw  they  slue  no 
man,  reither  did  spode  or  make  hauock  of  any  thing  :  then 
certaine  of  the  Senators,  and  many  of  the  people  imbolden- 
ing  themselues,  went  to  the  Capitoll  vnto  them.  There  a 
great  number  of  men  being  assembled  together  /)ne  after 
another,  Brutus  made  an  oration  vnto  them  to  win  the  fauour 
of  the  people,  and  to  iustifie  that  they  had  done.  Al  those 
that  were  by,  said  they  had  done  well,  and  cried  vnto  them, 
that  they  should  bohlly  come  downe  from  the  Capitoll  : 
whereupon  Brutus  and  his  companions  came  boldly  downe 
into  the  market  place.  The  rest  followed  in  troupe,  but 
Brutus  went  formost,  very  honourably  compassed  in  round 
abont  with  the  noblest  men  of  the  citie,  which  brought  him 
from  the  Capitoll,  thi-ough  the  market  place,  to  the  pulpit  for 
oratios.  "U'lig  the  people  saw  him  in  the  pulpit,  although 
they  were  a  multitude  of  rakehels  of  all  sorts,  and  had  a  good 
will  to  make  some  stirre  :  yet  being  ashamed  to  do  it,  for  the 
reuersnce  they  bare  vnto  Brutus,  they  kept  silence  to  heare 
what  he  would  say.     VThe  BrutUij  be^i&n  to  speake,  they  gaue 


UOBTH'S   translation   of   PLUTARCH.        185 

him  quiet  audience :  howbeit  immediately  after,  they  shewed 
that  they  were  not  all  contented  with  the  murther.  For 
when  another  called  Cinna  woxild  haue  spoken,  and  beganne 
to  accuse  Caesar  :  they  fell  into  a  great  vprore  amongst  them, 
and  marutilo-i-ily  reuiled  him.  Insomuch  that  the  conspi- 
ratourg  retou-ned  againe  into  the  Capitoil.  There  Brutus 
being  aff rayed  to  be  besieged,  sent  backe  againe  the  Noble- 
men that  came  thither  with  him,  thinking  it  no  reason,  that 
they  which  were  no  partakers  of  the  murther,  should  be 
partakers  of  the  daunger.  Then  the  next  morning  the 
Senate  being  assembled,  and  holden  within  the  temple  of  the 
goddesse  Tellus,  to  wit,  the  Earth :  and  Antonius,  Plancus, 
and  Cicero,  hauing  made  a  motion  to  the  Senate  in  that  as- 
sembly, that  they  should  take  an  order  to  pardon  and  forget 
all  that  was  past,  and  to  stablish  friendship  and  peace  againe  : 
it  was  decreed,  that  they  should  not  only  be  pardoned,  but 
also  that  the  Consuls  should  referre  it  to  the  Senate  what 
honours  should  be  appointed  vnto  them.  This  being  agreed 
vpon,  the  Senate  brake  vp,  and  Antonius  the  Cons'ull,  to  put 
them  in  heart  that  were  in  the  Capitoil,  sent  them  his  son  tie 
for  a  pledge.  Vpon  this  assurance,  Brutus  and  his  companions 
came  downe  from  the  Capitoil,  where  euery  man  saluted  and 
embraced  each  other,  among  the  which,  Antonius  himselfe  did 
bid  Cassius  to  supper  to  him  :  and  Lepidus  also  bad  Brutus, 
and  80  one  bad  another,  as  they  had  friendship  and  acquaint- 
ance together.  The  next  dny  following,  the  Senate  being 
called  againe  to  councell,  did  drst  of  all  commend  Antonius, 
for  that  he  had  wisely  stayed  and  quenched  the  beginning  ..t  a 
iivdil  warre  :  then  they  also  gaue  Brutus  and  his  consorts  great 
prayses,  and  lastly  they  appointed  them  seuerall  gouemnients 
of  prouinces.  For  vnto  Brutus,  they  appointed  Creta  ;  Afrioke 
vnto  Cassius  ;  Asia  vnto  Ti-ebonius  :  Bithynia,  vnto  Ciinber ; 
and  vnto  the  other  Detius  Brutus  Albinus,  Gavle  on  this  side 
the  Alpes.  When  this  was  done,  they  came  to  talke  of  Casars 
will  and  testament,  and  of  his  funerals  and  tombe.  Then 
Antonius  thinking  good  his  testament  should  be  read  openly, 
and  also  that  his  bodie  should  be  honorably  buried,  and  not 
In  hugger  mugger,  lest  the  people  might  thereby  take  occasion 
to  be  worse  otfended  if  thav  did  otheiwise :  Cassius  itout^ 


186  ILLUSTEATIVE    PAilSAGES    FBOM 

spake  against  it.  But  Bnitua  went  with  the  motion,  and 
agreed  vnto  it  :  wherein  it  seeineth  he  committed  a  second 
fault.  For  the  first  fault  he  did,  was  when  he  would  not  con- 
sent to  his  fellow  conspirators,  that  Antoniua  should  be  slain e  . 
and  therefore  he  was  iustly  accused,  that  thereby  he  had  saued 
and  strengthened  ?.  strong  and  grieuous  enemy  of  their  oon- 
apiracie.  The  second  fault  was,  when  be  agreed  that  Caesars 
funerals  should  be  aa  Antonius  would  haue  them,  the  which 
indeed  marred  all.  For  first  of  all,  when  Caesfirs  testament 
was  openly  read  among  them,  whereby  it  appeared  that  he  be- 
queathed vTito  euery  Citizen  of  Rome,  75.  Drachmes  a  man  ; 
and  that  he  left  his  gardens  &  arbors  vnto  the  peo^de,  which  he 
had  on  this  side  of  the  riuer  of  T}'ber,  in  the  place  where  now 
the  temple  of  Fortune  is  built  :  the  people  then  loued  him.  k 
were  marvellous  sorie  for  him.  Afterwards,  when  C^sars 
body  was  brought  into  the  market  place,  Antonius  making  his 
funeral  Oration  in  pr.dse  of  tiie  dead  according  to  the  auncient 
custome  of  Rome,  and  perceiuing  that  his  words  moued  the 
common  people  to  compassion  :  he  framed  his  eloquence  to 
make  their  harts  yerne  the  more,  and  taking  Cfesars  gowne  all 
bloudy  in  his  hand,  he  layed  it  open  to  the  sight  of  them  all, 
shewing  what  a  number  of  cuts  and  holes  it  had  vpon  it. 
Tlierewithall  the  peoi)le  fell  presently  into  such  a  rage  and 
mutinie,  that  there  was  no  more  order  kept  amongst  the  common 
people.  For  some  of  them  cryed  out.  Kill  the  murtuerei-s  •. 
others  plucked  vp  formes,  tables,  and  stalles  about  the  market 
place,  as  they  had  done  before  at  the  funerals  of  Clodius, 
and  hauing  laid  them  all  on  a  heape  together,  they  set  them 
on  fire,  and  thereupon  did  put  tlie  body  of  Casar,  and  burnt  it 
in  the  midst  of  the  most  holy  places.  And  furthermore,  when 
the  fire  was  throughly  Idntllod,  some  ber»,  some  there,  tooke 
burning  firebrands,  and  ran  with  them  to  the  murtherers  houses 
that  kille<i  him,  to  set  them  a  fire.  Howbeit,  the  conspira- 
tours  foreseeing  the  daimger  before,  had  wisely  prouided  for 
themselues,  and  fledde.  But  there  was  a  Poet  called  Cinna, 
who  ha<l  bene  no  partaker  of  the  conspiracie,  but  was  alway 
one  of  Caesars  chiefest  friends  :  he  dreamed  the  night  before, 
that  Caesar  bad  him  to  supper  with  him,  and  that  he  refusing 
to  go,  Caesar  was  very  importunate  with  him,   and  oompeUed 


NORTH'S   TRANSLATION   OP  PLUTARCH.        187 

bim,  lo  that  at  length  he  led  him  by  the  hand  icto  a  great 
darke  place,  where  being  maxuellously  afTrayed,  he  was  driuen 
to  follow  him  in  spite  of  his  heart.  This  dreame  put  him  all 
night  into  a  feauer,  and  yet  notwithstanding,  the  next  morn- 
ing when  he  heard  they  carried  Caesars  bodie  to  buriall,  being 
ashamed  not  to  accompanie  his  funerals  :  he  went  out  of  hia 
house,  and  thrust  himselfe  into  the  prease  of  the  common 
people  that  were  in  a  great  vprore.  And  because  some  one 
called  him  by  his  name,  Cinna  ;  the  people  thinking  he  had 
bene  that  Cinna,  who  in  an  oration  he  made,  had  spoken  very 
euill  of  Caesar ;  they  falling  vpon  him  in  their  rage,  slue  him 
outright  in  the  market  place.  This  made  Brutus  and  hia 
companions  more  atfraid  then  any  other  thing,  next  mto  the 
chaunge  of  Antonius.  "Wherefore  they  got  them  out  of  Rome, 
and  kept  at  the  first  in  the  city  of  Antivm,  hoping  to  returne 
againe  to  Rome,  when  the  furie  of  the  people  was  a  litle 
asswaged.  The  which  they  hoped  would  be  quickley,  con- 
sidering that  they  had  to  deale  with  a  fickle  and  vnconstant]mul- 
titude,  easie  to  be  caried,  and  that  the  Senate  stood  for  them : 
who  notwithstanding  made  no  enquirie  of  them  that  had  tome 
poore  Cinna  the  Poet  in  peeces,  but  caused  them  to  be  sought 
for  and  apprehended,  that  went  with  firebrands  to  set  fire  of 

the  conspiratours  houses About  that  time,  Brutus 

sent  to  pray  Cassius  to  come  to  the  citie  of  Sardis,  and  so  he 
did.  Brutus  understanding  of  his  comming,  went  to  meete  him 
with  all  his  friendes.  There  both  their  armies  being  armed, 
they  called  them  both  Emperors.  Now  (as  it  commonly  hap- 
peneth  in  great  affaires  betweene  two  persons,  both  of  them 
hauing  many  friendes,  and  so  many  Captaines  vnder  them: 
there  ranne  tale^  and  complaints  betwixt  them.  Therefore, 
before  they  fell  in  hand  with  any  other  matter,  they  went  into 
a  litle  chamber  together,  and  bad  euery  man  auoid  and  did 
shut  the  dores  to  them.  Then  they  began  to  powre  out  their 
complaints  one  to  the  other,  and  grew  hot  and  loud,  earnestly 
accusing  one  another,  and  at  length  fell  both  a  weeping.  Their 
friends  that  were  without  the  chamber,  hearing  them  loud 
within,  and  angry  betweene  themselues,  they  were  both  amazed 
and  afraid  also,  lest  it  would  grow  to  further  matter  :  but  yet 
they  were  commanded,  that  no  man  should  come  to  them. 


188  ILLUSTRATIVE   PASeAGES   Fit03T 

Notwithstanding  cne  Mar-Phaonius,  that  had  bene  a  iviend 
and  follower  of  Cato  while  he  liued,  &  tooke  vpon  him  to 
counterfeit  a  Philosopher,  not  with  wisJome  and  discretion, 
but  with  a  certaine  bedlem  and  franticke  motion  :  he  would 
needs  come  into  tlie  chamber,  though  the  men  offered  to  keepe 
him  out.  But  it  was  no  boote  to  let  Phaouius,  when  a  madde 
mood  or  toy  tooke  him  in  the  head  :  for  he  was  a  bote  hasty 
man,  and  sudden  in  all  his  doings,  and  cared  for  neuer  a 
Senator  of  them  all.  Now,  though  he  vsed  this  bold  maner 
of  speech  after  the  profession  of  the  CjTiicke  Philosophers  (aa 
who  would  say.  Dogs)  yet  this  boldnesse  did  no  hurt  many 
times,  because  they  did  but  laugh  at  him  to  see  him  so  mad. 
This  Phaonius  at  that  time,  in  despite  of  the  doorekeepers, 
came  into  the  chamber,  and  with  a  certaine  scoffing  and  mock- 
ing gesture  which  he  counterfeited  of  purpose,  he  rehearsed 
the  verses  which  old  Nestor  sayd  in  Homer : 

"  My  Lords,  I  pray  you  hearken  both  to  me, 
For  I  baue  scene  inoe  yearea  then  sachie  threa." 

Cassius  fell  a  laughing  at  him  :  but  Brutus  thrust  him  out  of 
the  chamber,  and  called  him  dogge,  and  counterfeit  Cynicke. 
Howbeit  his  comming  in  brake  their  strife  at  that  time,  and 
so  they  left  each  other.  The  selfe  same  night  Cassius  prepared 
his  supper  in  his  chamber,  and  Brutus  brought  his  friends 
with  him.  So  wheu  they  were  set  at  supper,  Phaonius 
came  to  sit  downe  after  he  had  washed.  Brutus  told 
him  aloud,  no  man  sent  for  him,  and  bad  tlu-m  set  him 
at  the  vpper  end  :  meaning  indeed  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  bed.  Phaonius  made  no  ceremony,  but  thrust  in 
amongst  the  middest  of  them,  and  made  all  the  company 
laugh  at  him :  So  they  were  merry  all  supper  time,  and  full  of 
their  Philosophie.  The  next  day  after,  Brutus,  vpon  com- 
plaint of  the  Sardians,  did  condemne  and  note  Lucius  Pella  foj 
a  defamed  person,  that  had  bene  a  Praetor  of  the  Komaines, 
and  whom  Brutus  had  giuen  charge  vnto  :  for  that  he  was 
accused  and  conuicted  of  robbery,  and  pilfene  in  his  office. 
This  iudgement  much  misliked  Cassius  :  because  he  himselfe 
bad  secretly  (not  many  dayes  before)  warned  two  of  his  friends, 
attainted  and  conuicted  of  the  like  offences,  a  ad  opcaly  had 


NORTH'S   TRANSLATION   OF   PLUTARCH.         189 

cleared  them  :  but  yet  he  did  not  therefore  leaue  to  employ 
them  in  any  manner  of  seruice  as  he  did  before.  And  there- 
fore he  greatly  reproued  Bnitus,  for  that  he  would  shew 
himselfe  so  straight  and  seuere  in  such  a  time,  as  was  meeter 
to  beare  a  litle,  then  to  take  things  at  the  worst.  Brutus  in 
contrarie  manner  answered,  that  he  should  remember  the  Idea 
of  March,  at  which  time  they  slue  lulius  Csesar  :  who  neither 
piled  nor  polled  the  countrey,  but  onely  was  a  fauourer  and 
suborner  of  all  them  that  did  rob  and  spoile,  by  his  countenance 
&  authoritie.  And  if  there  were  any  occasion  wherby  tliey 
might  honestly  set  aside  iustice  and  equitie  :  they  should  haue 
had  more  reason  to  haue  suffered  Cfesars  friends,  to  have 
robbed  and  done  what  wrong  and  iniurie  they  had  would,  then 
to  beare  with  their  owne  men.  For  then  sayd  he,  they  could 
but  haue  sayd  they  had  bene  cowards:  and  now  they  may 
accuse  vs  of  iniustice,  beside  the  paines  we  take,  and  the 
danger  we  put  our  selues  into.  And  thus  may  we  see  what 
Brutus  intent  and  purpose  was.  But  as  they  both  prepared  to 
passe  ouer  againe,  out  of  Asia  into  Europe  :  there  went  a 
rumour  that  there  appeared  a  wonderfull  signe  vnto  him. 
Brutus  was  a  carefuU  man,  and  slept  very  litle,  both  for  that 
his  diet  was  moderate,  as  also  because  he  was  continually 
occupied.  He  neuer  slept  in  the  day  time,  and  in  the  night  no 
longer,  then  the  time  he  was  driuen  to  be  alone,  and  when 
euery  body  else  tooke  their  rest.  But  now  whilest  he  was  in 
warre,  and  his  head  euer  busily  occupied  to  thinke  of  hia 
affaires,  and  what  would  happen :  ^.fter  he  had  slumbered  a 
little  after  supper,  he  spent  all  the  rest  of  the  night  in  dis- 
patching of  his  waightiest  causes,  and  after  he  had  taken  order 
for  them,  if  he  had  any  leisure  left  him,  he  would  reade  some 
booke  till  the  third  watch  of  the  night,  at  what  time  the 
Caj)taines,  petty  Captaines  and  Colonels,  did  vse  to  come  to 
him.  So,  being  ready  to  go  into  Evrope,  one  night  very  late 
(when  all  the  camjie  tooke  quiet  rest)  as  he  was  in  his  tent 
with  a  litle  light,  thinking  of  waightie  matters  :  he  thought  he 
heard  one  come  in  to  him,  and  casting  his  eye  towards  the 
doore  of  his  tent,  that  he  saw  a  wonderfull  straunge  and  mon- 
strous shape  of  a  bodie  comming  toAvards  him,  and  sayd  neuer 
a  word.     So  Brutus  boldlv  asked  him  what  he  was,  a  god  or  a 


190  ILX-USTSATIVE    PASSAQKW    FllOii 

man,  and  what  cause  brought  him  thither.  The  spirit  »no- 
swered  him,  I  am  thy  euill  spirit,  Brutua  :  and  thou  thalt  iee 
me  by  the  citie  of  Philippes.  Brutua  being  no  other- 
wise afraid,  replied  againe  mto  it :  Well,  tlien  I  ehaU 
see  thee  againe.  The  spirit  presently  vanisliei  away: 
and   Brutus  called  his  men  vnto  him,   who  told  him   that 

they  heard  no  noise,  nor  saw  any  thing  at  all 

So  Cassius  himself e  was  tit  length  compelled  to  flie,  with  a 
few  about  him,  vnto  a  litle  hill,  from  whence  they  might 
easily  see  what  was  done  in  all  the  plaine :  howbeit  Cassius  him- 
selfe  saw  nothing,  for  his  sight  was  very  bad,  sauing  that  he 
saw  (and  yet  with  much  ado)  how  the  enemies  s]>oiled  his 
campe  before  his  eyes.  He  saw  also  a  great  troupe  of  horsmen, 
whom  Brutus  sent  to  aide  him,  and  thought  that  they  were  his 
enemies  that  followed  him  :  but  yet  he  sent  Titinnius,  ons  of 
them  that  was  with  him,  to  go  anil  know  what  they  were. 
Brutus  horsemen  saw  him  comniing  a  farre  off.  whom  when 
they  knew  that  he  was  one  of  Cassius  chiefest  friends,  they 
shouted  out  for  ioy  :  and  they  that  were  famiUarly  acquainted 
with  him,  lighted  from  their  horses,  and  went  ami  embraced 
him.  The  rest  compassed  him  in  round  atout  a  horse- back, 
with  aongs  of  victorie  and  great  rushing  of  their  harnesse,  so 
that  they  made  all  the  field  ring  againe  for  ioy.  But  this 
marred  all.  For  Cassius  thinking  indeed  that  Titinnius  was 
taken  of  the  enemies,  he  then  gpake  these  words:  desiring  too 
much  to  line,  I  haue  liued  to  see  one  of  my  best  friends  take, 
for  my  sake,  before  my  face.  After  that,  he  got  into  a  tent 
where  no  body  was,  and  tooke  I'indarus  with  him,  one  of  hi  - 
freed  bondmen,  whom  he  reserued  euer  for  such  a  pinch,  since 
the  cursed  battell  of  tjie  Parthians,  where  Crassus  was  slaine 
though  he  notwithstanding  scaped  from  that  ouerthrow  :  but 
then  casting  hia  cloke  ouer  his  head,  and  holding  out  his  bare 
necke  vnto  Pindarus,  he  gaue  him  his  bead  to  be  striken  off.  So 
the  head  was  found  seuered  from  the  body :  but  after  that 
time  Pindarus  ^ras  neuer  seene  more.  ^Vhe^eupon,  some  tooke 
occasion  to  say  that  he  had  slaine  his  maister  without  his  com 
maxindement.  By  and  by  they  knew  the  horsmen  that  camp 
towardfl  them,  ard  might  see  Titinnius  crowned  with  a  garland 
rf  triumph,  who  came  before  with  great  speed  vnto  Caesiui 


I^OKTH  S   TRANSLATION    OF    PLUTAJRCH.         LVJ 

Bat  when  he  perceiued  by  the  cries  and  teares  of  his  frienda 
whicn  tomieted  themselves^  the  misfortune  that  had  chanced 
to  bis  Captaine  Cassius,  by  mistaking  :  he  drew  out  his  swoid, 
cuTfting  himself  a  thousand  times  that  he  had  taried  so  long, 
&  so  slew  himselfe  presently  in  the  field.  ,  ,  .  .  The 
selfsame  night,  it  is  reported  that  the  monstrous  spirit  which 
had  appeared  before  vnto  Brutus  in  the  citie  of  Sardis,  did 
now  appeare  againe  vnto  him  in  the  selfesarae  shape  and  forme, 
and  80  vanished  away,  and  said  neuer  a  word.  Now  Publius 
Volumnius,  a  graue  and  wise  Philosopher,  that  had  bin  with 
Brutus  fro  the  beginning  of  this  war,  he  doth  make  no  mention 
of  this  spirit,  but  saith  :  that  the  greatest  Eagle  and  ensigne 
was  couered  ouer  with  a  swarme  of  bees,  and  that  there  was 
one  of  the  captaines,  whose  arme  sodainely  fel  a  sweating,  that 
it  dropped  oile  6f  roses  from  him,  and  that  they  oftentimes 
went  about  to  dry  him,  but  all  would  do  no  good.  And  that  be- 
fore the  battel  was  fought,  there  were  two  Eagles  fought  between 
both  armies,  and  all  the  time  they  fought,  there  was  a  maruel- 
lous  great  silence  aU  the  valley  ouer,  both  the  armies  being  one 
before  the  other,  marking  this  fight  betweene  them  ;  and  that  in 
the  end,  the  Eagle  towards  Brutus  gaue  ouer  and  flew  away,  .  .  . 
There  v/as  one  of  Brutus  friends  called  Lucilius,  who  seeing  a 
troupe  of  barbarous  men  malcing  no  reckoning  of  all  men  else 
they  met  in  their  way,  but  going  all  together  right  against 
Brutus,  he  determined  to  stay  them  with  the  hazard  of  hia 
life,  and  being  left  behind,  told  them  that  he  was  Brutus : 
and  because  they  should  beleeue  him,  he  prayed  them  to  bring 
him  to  Antonius,  for  he  said  he  was  affraid  of  Csesar,  and  that 
he  did  trust  Antonius  better.  These  barbarous  men  being  verr 
glad  of  this  good  hap,  and  thinking  them  selues  happie  men; 
they  caried  him  in  the  night  and  sent  some  before  vnto  An- 
tonius, to  tel  him  of  their  comming.  He  was  maruellous  glad 
of  it,  and  went  out  to  meete  them  that  brought  him.  Other* 
also  vnderstanding  of  it,  that  they  had  brought  Brutw 
prisoner  :  they  came  out  of  all  parts  of  the  campe  to  see  him, 
some  pitying  his  hard  fortune,  and  others  sajring,  that  it  W£\ 
not  done  like  himself  so  cowardly  to  be  taken  aline  of  the  bar 
barous  people,  for  feare  of  death.  When  they  came  neare  to- 
getlier,  Antonius  staid  awhile  bethinking  himself  how  he  should 


192  KORTH's   TBiLNSLATION    OF   PLUTABCH. 

ne  Bmtru.  In  the  meane  time  Lncflixw  was  brought  to  fcim, 
who  stoutly  with  a  bold  countenance  said  :  Antonius,  I  dare 
assure  thee,  that  no  enemie  hath  taken  nor  shall  take  Marcus 
Brutus  aliue  :  and  I  beseech  God  keepe  him  from  that  fortune. 
For  wheresoeuer  he  be  found,  aHue  or  dead  :  he  will  be  found 
like  hiraselfe.  And  now  for  my  selfe,  I  am  come  vnto  thee, 
hauing  deceiued  these  men  of  armes  here,  bearing  them  downe 
that  I  was  Brutus  :  and  do  not  refuse  to  suffer  any  torment 
thou  wilt  put  me  to.  Lucilius  words  made  them  jJl  amazed 
that  beard  him.  Antonius  on  the  other  side,  looking  vpon  all 
them  that  had  brought  him,  said  vnto  them  :  My  companions, 
I  thinke  ye  are  sorie  you  haue  failed  of  your  purpose,  and  that 
you  think  this  man  hath  done  you  great  wrong :  but  I  assure 
you,  you  have  taken  a  better  bootie,  then  that  you  followed. 
For  in  stead  of  an  enemy,  you  haue  brought  me  a  friend  :  and 
for  my  part,  if  you  had  brought  me  Brutus  aliue,  truly  I  can 
not  t«U  what  I  should  haue  done  to  him.  For,  I  had  rather 
haue  sxich  men  my  friends,  as  this  man  here,  then  enemies. 
Then  he  embraced  Lucilius,  and  at  that  time  deliuered  him  to 
one  of  his  friends  in  custodie  ;  and  LucCius  euer  after  serued 

him  faithfully,  euen  to  his  death And  for  Por<;ia, 

Brutus  wife  ;  Nicolaus  the  Philosopht?,  and  Valerius  IVIaximus 
do  write,  that  she  determining  to  kill  her  selfe  (her  parents 
and  friends  carefully  looking  to  her  to  keepe  her  from  it)  tooke 
hote  b\irning  coles  and  cast  them  into  her  mouth,  and  kept  her 
mouth  so  close,  that  she  choked  her  selfe.  There  was  a  letter 
of  Brutus  found  written  to  his  friends,  complaining  of  their 
negligence,  that  his  wife  being  sicke,  they  would  not  helpe  her, 
but  suffered  her  to  kill  her  selfe  ;  chusing  to  die,  rather  then 
to  languish  in  paine.  Thus  it  appeareth  that  Nicolaus  knew 
not  well  that  time,  sith  the  letter  (at  the  least  if  it  were 
BrutuB  letter)  doth  plainely  declare  the  disease  and  Umm  ol 
OkJM  Ladie.  and  also  the  manner  of  her  death. 


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